Dear Editor,

The recent analysis of state employee salaries by the Star-Ledger ( May 1, 2011) underscores what AFSCME members have been saying for years; that rank-and-file public employees work hard, in often dangerous and difficult jobs, are compensated at average or below average levels, and are critically important to the safety and health of all our State’s residents.

The study shows that while certain high level managers and specialists receive handsome salaries, the “average” public worker caring for the mentally ill, or keeping our streets safe, or making sure our drinking water is clean, is paid an “average” salary and is often struggling to make ends meet. The value of the public services they provide is not usually matched by the value of their paycheck.

An AFSCME member, who works in a state psychiatric facility, was featured in the article and challenged Governor Christie to live and raise a family on her salary of $43,758 (she is one of the 17,775 full-time state employees making less than $45,000 a year). Think he could do it? I doubt it, and certainly wonder how he would do caring for patients at the State Psychiatric Hospitals, as AFSCME members do each and every day.

These facts are critically important to the ongoing discussions and negotiations over public employee health benefits. Governor Christie tells town hall audiences that public employees don’t pay their fair share in benefits. He wants all public employees to pay 30% of their health care premiums. As the article suggests, the Governor’s health care proposal would equate to a 10% pay cut for many AFSCME members, whereas the Governor and others in his salary range would lose only about 1%.

The Governor needs to reassess his approach in dealing with public employees. First, health benefits must be negotiated, just as they currently are at all levels of government, not legislated. Second, he must stop painting all public employees with the same broad brush and recognize that this is a diverse work group. Many public employees do not have the ability to take drastic cuts in pay as the Governor is proposing.

In the current economic environment, where elected officials are quick to target public employees in order to score political points, public services are more vital than ever. Instead of tearing down the public sector, AFSCME believes now is the time to support public employees and the work they do to keep our communities vibrant and safe.

Sincerely,

Gerard J. Meara

Executive Director

AFSCME Council 73