Lawmakers Look at Bonuses
by Christine Stuart | Mar 11, 2010 6:34pm
(9) Comments | Commenting has expired
Posted to: Labor, State Capitol
On the same day 150 individuals came to the Capitol to testify—mostly against the spending cuts in Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s deficit mitigation plan—both political parties agreed to take a look at millions of dollars in longevity bonuses that the state pays its non-union employees.
Twice a year the state makes payments to 4,000 non-union employees who have worked in state service for more than 10 years. That means Connecticut State University Chancellor David Carter will get more than $24,000, in addition to his salary, just for continuing to work for the state. The governor’s Chief of Staff M. Lisa Moody will receive $9,968, and the Chief State’s Attorney Kevin Kane will receive $9,159. And those are just a few examples of non-union employees scheduled to receive half of that bonus on April 1. The second half is paid on Oct. 1.
Following this article in Thursday’s Stamford Advocate, Republican leaders renewed their call to, at the very least, suspend the bonuses of the non-union employees as the state deals with its budget deficit.
“It’s not based on merit, it’s not based on anything else, but twice a year you get a check,” House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, said.
The practice of longevity payments has been on the books since the 1960s.
But when times are tough lawmakers on both sides of the aisle find it hard to justify these bonuses, which can top more than $10,000 for at least 38 employees.
“I believe suspending the longevity payments makes sense given the tough choices we have,“ Senate President Donald Williams, said, in an emailed statement Thursday night. “It is one of many proposals we’re looking at to help balance the budget.”
“It just doesn’t make any sense when we’re talking about cutting programs to balance our state budget,” Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, said.
“It’s difficult even in good times to explain to people in the state why someone gets a $10,000, $25,000 bonus simply because they’ve stayed an extra year,” McKinney said.
Cafero said he’s not advocating taking away the longevity payments that unionized employees receive because those payments are capped at $1,000 per person and are negotiated as part of the State Employees Bargaining Coalition agreement. Non-union bonuses reached a maximum of $24,000, which is a calculated based on salary and service time.
Last year the bonuses, both union and non-union, cost the state of Connecticut $43 million.
“It should offend those who don’t want to see their social programs cut, and fiscal conservatives,” Cafero said.
Cafero and McKinney believe the legislature can act quickly to delay the longevity bonuses for non-union employees before they’re doled out on April 1.
“We’re sitting here in every room in this building debating what tax should we increase, or what source should we borrow from, or which program should be cut,” Cafero said. “No one’s going to lose their job over this.”
(9) Comments
posted by: Save Now | March 11, 2010 11:24pm
You mean chancelor Carter will get $24k longevity on top of his $82.5k retention bonus for just not leaving? Isn’t that double indemnity? Why hasn’t the Auditors of Public Accounts report this abuse?
posted by: CT Jim | March 12, 2010 6:57am
Finally lokking at the excess off the exucutive branch.
They should look deeper and what they find will probably shock some but most knew it was happening.
They sshould look at how many $100K plus appointed jobs have been giving out by this administration not only during the last year and a half of the biggest downturn since the great depression but even in the last month. As unionized employees were taking over $700 million in concessions Rell was giving the money to politically connected cronies while proclaiming things are getting worse.
posted by: DrHunterSThompson | March 12, 2010 11:15am
what’s goo for the Gosse is good for the Gander.
if they suspend payments for managers, they need to suspend those for union folks as well.
HST
posted by: City Hall Watch | March 12, 2010 12:09pm
Longevity pay has infected the compensation structures at the state and local level, union and non-union alike. It’s always been a bad idea but now that salaries and benefits far outstrip the private sector and with the finances across the board in such dire crisis, the continued practice is even more absurd than its ever been. It should be discontinued and not suspended. The very idea that you have to pay people extra to keep working is laughable on its face. If anybody in Hartford has to wonder why taxpayers think legislators are clueless and irresponsible, one only need to read this story.
posted by: CT Jim | March 13, 2010 9:57am
City, these are Rell appointees they are talking about not the rank and file on the job who actually do the WORK.
You guys have been silent for the last 20 years on these Wieker, Rowlnad, Rell fat cats. Its time to purge these guys and save hundreds of millions. Watch for Rell to make as many appointments as possible to take care of the Republicans in Hartford.
posted by: KrisCT | March 13, 2010 11:48am
CTJim, longevity bonuses are not just for appointees, but for all managers and confidentials. To be fair though, the managers and confidentials have also been furloughed and have given up raises until July 2011. Aren’t unions still getting pay raises?
posted by: CT Jim | March 13, 2010 5:22pm
KrisCT,
Actually NO they are not. All the unionized workers were not only required to take furlogh days and a Hard zero for pay increases which includes no raise and no step increase, but they were also required to pay more for thier healh care(their portion is over $250 a month they were also required to pay larger co-pays and unionized workers with less than ten years have an additional 3% taken out of thier paychecks for the next 10 years to go towards their retiree health care which most wont see for at least 30 years!
Haven’t you heard? They gave up $750 million to help our state out of this mess and the Governor decides to give her friends and family bonuses!
posted by: KrisCT | March 13, 2010 10:59pm
CT Jim,
Again, managers and confidentials were included in the Special Act that enacted the SEBAC agreement. So they too have had furlough days, increased health insurance, etc. However, if you read the agreement, there are some unions that are receiving AIs, etc. Too be clear, I do not support longevity pay. However, I don’t think it is fair to paint managers and confidentials in the same light as appointees. Managers and confidentials got their jobs through the merit system, just like union employees, and many of them started as union and worked their way up. And its not as if Rell set up these longevity payments…Longevity has been part of the pay system for decades. It made sense when it was first initiated, but, with pay and benefits comparable to private sector, the state should no longer pay out longevity.
