Here are a few of the actions my private-sector employer has had to implement in its struggle to stay in business during these hard economic times: Layoffs and early retirements; mandatory non-paid days off if business is slow; a freeze on overtime; downsizing or closing of whole departments, resulting in increased workload for remaining employees.
Our employee-paid portion for health insurance went from $44 a month to $300 a month for the same coverage. Our defined benefit retirement plan was discontinued last year and replaced with an employee paid 401(k) plan.
We have been hearing a lot lately from the government about “shared sacrifice” and “paying your fair share” during this recession. Our Gov. Chris. Gregoire is currently in contract negotiations with state government union employees.
It will be interesting to see if any cuts, givebacks or benefit reductions even close to the ones I and my fellow workers have had to endure will happen with government employees. Just as private industry must stay within its budget, so should our state government.
