Corbett+Asks+for+State+Worker+Pay+Cuts

=Wants employees to give back 4%=

=By Tracie Mauriello= =//Published in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette//= =//4/7/11//=

= = = = =HARRISBURG -- Gov. Tom Corbett is asking state workers to take a 4 percent pay cut in order to help balance the budget.= =The workers would be made whole again within two years, according to the proposal that would affect 45,000 of the lowest-paid state workers, all members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. About 1,800 of those laborers work in the Pittsburgh area.= =AFSCME workers are paid about $34,000 a year on average, according to union executive director David Fillman. Under the Corbett proposal, their annual pay would decrease to an average of $32,640.= =The pay cut would save the state more than $60 million.= =Mr. Fillman said the reduction would be painful for workers while savings would do little to close the state's $4.2 billion budget gap.= ="Do we know we're going to have to make some sacrifices in this budget? Of course we do," Mr. Fillman said. "But for a lot of folks 4 percent would be devastating."= =He said the union already agreed months ago to take a one-year pay freeze, but the governor rejected that. Corbett spokesman Kevin Harley did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The governor also is asking workers to contribute more toward health insurance costs.= =Mr. Fillman said the proposal is a starting point and is likely to change as it gets closer to June 30, when the current contract expires.= =The next negotiating session is planned for April 22.= =AFSCME represents about 55 percent of state workers, including Department of Transportation drivers, nursing assistants in state institutions, clerical workers, custodians and state park employees.= = = = Read more: [] = = = = =

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