NEW YORK STATE Reports: Wages down in state Empire Center notes gov’t jobs better-paying BY SARA FOSS Gazette Reporter
If you look at the New York State Department of Labor website, wages in New York appear to have been rising steadily for years, even during the recession. But in reality, most workers have seen the real value of their weekly wages decline. Because the department no longer adjusts wage data for inflation, workers appear to be earning more, even though they are not. In its annual “State of Working” report, the Latham-based Fiscal Policy Institute found that median wages have declined upstate, with one exception: women in managerial/professional jobs saw a small increase, 2 percent, in their median wages. In contrast, managerial/professional males saw their wages fall by 6.8 percent. Men and women in non-managerial/non-professional positions saw their median weekly earnings drop 5.9 percent. In last year’s report, the Fiscal Policy Institute found that real median wages have not risen since 1990, “despite considerable productivity growth over this period”; between 1990 and 2008, the median wage in New York, when adjusted for inflation, grew only 3.4 percent. James Ross, a labor market analyst with the state Department of Labor, said that workers in education, government and health care are most insulated from the effects of the recession because there’s always a demand for the services workers in those areas provide. GETTING AHEAD According to the conservative Empire Center for New York State Policy, private-sector wages dropped 4.2 percent from 2007 to 2009, while the average state and local government wages rose 5.7 percent. In 55 of New York’s 62 counties, the average salary for state and local government jobs is higher than the private-sector average. “Government jobs are not only virtually recession-proof — on average, in the majority of New York communities, they pay more, too,” the organization writes in a 2010 report titled “New York’s 21st Century Jobs Slump.” “While New York’s private-sector economy has yet to fully recover from its latest downturn, state and local government remains at an all time high. Government workers remain more secure, and generally better compensated than privatesector workers.” The report notes that the latest estimated statewide average salary for all jobs in state and local government is $51,520, which is 88 percent of the private sector’s $58,850 salary average. “However, the private-sector fi gure is infl ated by a large concentration of highly paid jobs in Manhattan’s fi nancial sector,” the report says. ........................>>>>....................>>>>...................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00902&AppName=1
“While New York’s private-sector economy has yet to fully recover from its latest downturn, state and local government remains at an all time high. Government workers remain more secure, and generally better compensated than privatesector workers.”
the salaries of present earning are not the issue, they are adjustable......it's the future pay-outs and benefits guaranteed on an unsure future on the backs of future generations......GET OFF MY BACK
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
No kidding. The end is near for this state. Mark my words. You cant persecute business 24/7 and make producers into evil villains as your stock in trade and expect to survive.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
How about if the CEO of New York State get paid like a CEO in the private sector?
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
NYS is a GIANT F'EN leech.....it uses feel good rhetoric/arts to distract...any government can offer the 'atleasts', all the while not giving value.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
at least I have a job at least I have a home at least I have taxes to pay at least I can still buy groceries(no matter 1/3 increase in price) at least I have $200 in my savings account at least I can shop at the dollar store at least I can say I contributed their retirement (no matter how my arm was twisted) at least I have leaders that dont worry about their poll #'s at least I have a car I can put $3.50/gal gas into at least I can say I 'helped' the poor in schenectady (or are they from down state?) at least-----------------------------------------------------there's a liquor store and lotto terminal within a 1/2 mile radius of my home at least I have a dollar(wait no I dont) I mean at least I have a dream(wait no not that either) I mean at least I have cheap common swill available to tolerate the least of my problems......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
How about if the CEO of New York State get paid like a CEO in the private sector?
A CEO gets paid WILLFULLY in exchange for a service provided. A private sector CEO doesn’t confiscate money through law to pay their salaries. They usually make many many people money and creating jobs by expanding their product or services to new markets. That is why private sector jobs wages have been remaining flat during this recession, because businesses can only pay what the market is WILLING to pay, where as State employees have the ability to confiscate money through law and taxes regardless of markets. I'm not saying that State employees do not deserve to make a decent wage, but their union leaders need to keep them in line with those whose compensation fluctuates with the ups and downs of the markets. Otherwise, you piss off the geese that are laying the golden eggs, the geese begin to leave the state.
How about if the CEO of New York State get paid like a CEO in the private sector?
I made the same argument in another thread, the big difference is when you look at the pensions and benefits gap between the federal and private sector.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
This whole system of public sector salaries, pensions, and health-care being much higher and much better than those who pay for them has to end in the very near future because the benefits can no longer be afforded by the local/state/federal governments who promised to pay for them. The system is nothing but a giant pyramid scheme that's about to come crashing down around their ears.
at least I have a job at least I have a home at least I have taxes to pay at least I can still buy groceries(no matter 1/3 increase in price) at least I have $200 in my savings account at least I can shop at the dollar store at least I can say I contributed their retirement (no matter how my arm was twisted) at least I have leaders that dont worry about their poll #'s at least I have a car I can put $3.50/gal gas into at least I can say I 'helped' the poor in schenectady (or are they from down state?) at least-----------------------------------------------------there's a liquor store and lotto terminal within a 1/2 mile radius of my home at least I have a dollar(wait no I dont) I mean at least I have a dream(wait no not that either) I mean at least I have cheap common swill available to tolerate the least of my problems......
A CEO gets paid WILLFULLY in exchange for a service provided. A private sector CEO doesn’t confiscate money through law to pay their salaries. They usually make many many people money and creating jobs by expanding their product or services to new markets. That is why private sector jobs wages have been remaining flat during this recession, because businesses can only pay what the market is WILLING to pay, where as State employees have the ability to confiscate money through law and taxes regardless of markets. I'm not saying that State employees do not deserve to make a decent wage, but their union leaders need to keep them in line with those whose compensation fluctuates with the ups and downs of the markets. Otherwise, you piss off the geese that are laying the golden eggs, the geese begin to leave the state.
Gosh, I hope it doesn't mean that, when the state is in good financial shape, that the CEO of the state can get paid $500,000,000.
BUt here's a thought. Golub is CEO of his company. Doesn't he get paid that handsome salary not because we WILLINGLY pay prices but because we are forced to pay this property and school tax bill. Humans need to eat, so we have no choice but to pay the whatever the price is in a grocery store. (I know, we can go to the corner store and pay more, or get some things at a Gabriels or the meat sotres, but we end up driving all over the place to save a few pennies---don't really want to get into a price discussion about stores on this post) We know the CEO of Walmart gets paid far more, and I'm sure the guy in Belgium that is way up there in Hannaford's parent company, they all get paid so much, we don't have much of a choice. And then they pay employees so little with little benefits that we suppport their employees with public subsidies and EIC. And we know Price chopper gets huge tax exemptions, Walmart I think got something in Glenville, not sure about Hannaford.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Gosh, I hope it doesn't mean that, when the state is in good financial shape, that the CEO of the state can get paid $500,000,000.
How much wealth is the state creating? How does it contribute to growing the economic pie? A governments job is to balance a budget, not profit and expand. Government is necessary, but they only exist as an expense on the national GDP. When the economy retracts, so should government. To continue to demand wages greater than those paying the wages is unsustainable.
Commodity markets - supply and demand, set the prices of most goods in the grocery stores. The price of wheat, apples, grains and such are for the most part out of the control of the Supermarket. A lot of the time weather plays a major part in the price we pay for fruits and vegetable at the market. Even transportation prices to get the food to the stores fluctuate with the price of oil. As for having no choices as to where you buy groceries, I can name MANY option; Aldi, Save-a-Lot, Price Chopper, Hannaford, Price Rite, Wal-Mart, Gabriel, there is even food at places like Walgreen’s, CVS, Rite Aid, and Grand Union which went out of business. All within a 5 mile radius
All I'm saying is, when the markets adjust and the national economy retracts and people lose jobs - to hire government jobs and continue to increase taxes to pay for them is a recipe for disaster. For government workers to continue to feel they are entitled to pay and benefit that are so out of whack with what is happening in the private sector is unsustainable. I don’t matter if you win the rhetorical argument the economic reality is inevitable.
All I'm saying is, when the markets adjust and the national economy retracts and people lose jobs - to hire government jobs and continue to increase taxes to pay for them is a recipe for disaster. For government workers to continue to feel they are entitled to pay and benefit that are so out of whack with what is happening in the private sector is unsustainable. I don’t matter if you win the rhetorical argument the economic reality is inevitable.
Crash means Crash
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Union action may hit National Grid's operations Tweet this Share thisLink this 0diggsdiggEmailRelated NewsWind turbine supplier failure leaves SSE unfazed Fri, Jan 7 2011 UK gas rises on cold, power down on high supply Thu, Jan 6 2011 Gas and power prices ease on milder weather Wed, Jan 5 2011 Gas rises on storage supply cut, high exports Thu, Dec 30 2010 London firefighters resolve shifts row Thu, Dec 23 2010Related TopicsUK » Quotes National Grid PLC NG.L 572.50p +7.50+1.33%02/11/2011 LONDON | Fri Jan 14, 2011 4:48pm GMT
LONDON (Reuters) - The escalation of a dispute over pay at the National Grid may hit the operation of the company's power network and slow its construction projects, trade unions involved in the negotiations said on Friday.
National Grid employees who are labour union members have voted in favour of industrial action short of a strike, which includes a ban on overtime and goodwill, meaning workers would not take on leave or sickness cover for other colleagues.
"National Grid is a 24/7 operation. That means it relies heavily on overtime and goodwill. Over time (industrial action) could start causing a real problem but not necessarily immediately," a spokeswoman for the Prospect union said.
Workers are likely to start industrial action at the end of this month unless National Grid comes forward with an improved offer for salary increases, the unions said.
Protest action may involve employees who work on larger transmission projects, which could suffer a delay if staff refuse to work longer hours than stated in their contracts.
"The company is of course taking steps to ensure that any possible industrial action does not have any impact on gas and electricity supplies to consumers or on the safe operation of its networks," National Grid said in a statement.
The network operator this week made employees an adjusted offer of a two-year deal with pay rises of 2.5 percent for the first year and 2.25 percent the second year.
But the workforce rejected the offer on Wednesday, stalling discussions and increasing the likelihood industrial action could take place.
"We would much rather have a negotiated solution; nobody wants to take industrial action," the Prospect spokeswoman said.
"The company has done so well. Why should the work force not benefit from that? They're the ones who actually do the work that helps the company do well."
National Grid in November posted a 45 percent jump in adjusted pretax interim profits to 938 million pounds.
Quoted Text
The cutbacks could target many highly paid executives. At the state Public Service Commission's Jan. 27 vote on the rate hike, staff at the PSC noted that National Grid has more than 1,000 employees in its upstate operations who each make more than $100,000 annually. The company employs 18,000 throughout New York and New England.
King, who will keep his job through the restructuring, stopped short of saying that the job cuts and slashing of $200 million in expenses is directly related to the company's failure to get the $360 million rate increase it sought.
"Today we are taking the first step of a journey that began many months ago," King said.
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