Mainstream news media
like to sensationalize overtime use in public sector employment. The media broadcasts that statewide “nearly 300 state employees” made over $50,000 in overtime last year. The media presents this like the public sector
employees who worked the overtime are getting away with something. What the
media conveniently forgets is that much of that overtime money is due in large
part to draconian cuts in the number of public sector workers. The big users of
overtime in the Monroe County area are the Rochester Psychiatric Center and the
Finger Lakes DDSO. Both these state facilities provide quality care for the mentally
ill and developmentally disabled folks in our community. With the state and
local government cutting back on employees, the work still needs to be done and
these folks need support and care on their road to independence (short staff or
not).
What the news media does not share is much of the
overtime is “mandatory” overtime. While
some overtime is welcome, the amount of mandation is chilling. The only reason
public employees are mandated to work overtime, is due to short staffing. Most
of these employees would prefer to be home with their families after putting in
40 hours per week of tough grueling work.
Our members need to post comments online as soon as these articles appear on online newspaper web sites to dispute this yearly hate smear against the public employees and against the truth !
ReplyDeleteWell said.... I for one am sick of the demonization of public employees!!
Deleteyou pretty much summed up exactly how i felt about this as well, the way this news is portrait-ed makes it seem like state employees are just rolling in over time, an take advantage of doubling their pay check. when in reality, they are forced too with mandations. then are also denied that over time pay for weeks or months at a time.
ReplyDeletekeep cutting workers and who suffers? they people who need us the most, some days I could just cry for them
ReplyDelete