AFSCME Members in Delaware Say No to Pay Cuts

June 23, 2009

AFSCME Council 81 members brought their message to the Legislative Hall in Dover. (Photo by Edward Savaria)

Hundreds of AFSCME Council 81 members rallied at the Legislative Hall in Dover, Delaware to make sure legislators heard their message: “NO PAY CUT!”

To meet the state’s $800 million budget deficit, Gov. Jack Markell (D) has proposed slashing state employee salaries by 8 percent. Meanwhile, attrition, hiring freezes and funding cutbacks are already taking their toll on public services.

As Council 81 Exec. Dir. Mike Begatto said:

“An 8 percent pay cut for public employees would be an economic disaster for Delaware. It would take 91 million dollars out of Delaware’s economy. That will deepen our recession. It would hurt small businesses and it would be bad for every Delaware taxpayer.”

The rally featured a large “pledge card” for legislators to sign and express their support for no pay cuts and finding more responsible sources of revenue. See a video of the commitment rally here.

“I’m a single parent and if my pay is cut 8 percent, I won’t be able to provide for my family,” says AFSCME member Anthony Episcopo, a social worker who processes requests for food stamps and Medicaid. “There are more responsible ways to balance the state’s budget than on the backs of Delaware’s teachers, nurses and law enforcement officers.”

AFSCME members have proposed a number of alternatives to address Delaware’s budget constraints, including increasing the annual licensing fee from $250.00 to $350.00 a year for 580,000 Limited Liability Corporations chartered in the state and tapping into the state’s so-called “rainy day fund” to prevent more cutbacks.

Now it’s time for legislators to listen and do the right thing.