Letters to the editor & comments in the press
2:25 PM - August 19, 2010

A way to build support for public services is to make sure our voice is being heard in the local media.  Here are some excerpts from letters written by Unit 1 members.   Keep writing those letters!

Politicians keep spreading myths about state pay and benefits
Peter Brand, Conservancy Project Development Specialist, CCON, Sacramento Bee, July 6, 2010
 

“In 2008, among all states, California has the third-lowest ratio of state employees to population, 28% below the national average.  You could conclude that either California is getting more service out of each of its employees or the state is under-served.”

Restore employee benefits
Dave Clegern, Information Officer I, WRCB, Sacramento Bee, July 16, 2010
 

“The problem isn’t that public employees have decent pensions; it’s that private sector workers don’t.  And they don’t because their bosses and shareholders are finding even more creative ways to strip us all of the security we work for.  Let’s work on restoring some of those private employee pensions instead of destroying what public employees have legitimately worked for.”

    
State workers are people, too
Julie Bauer, Associate Editor, DTSC, Sacramento Bee, July 17, 2010
 

“State workers are taxpaying citizens who work hard for you, Joe Public, and get paid much less than their private sector counterparts…they do not deserve to get thrown under the bus by the governor.”

Workers’ fury with governor escalates
Kevin Menager, Staff Programmer Analyst, FTB, Sacramento Bee, July 18, 2010
 

“He’s [governor] the wrong captain on the wrong boat in a bad storm.”

Budget slackers rewarded
Charles Butz, Associate Pension Program Analyst, STRS, Sacramento Bee, August 20, 2010
 

“State workers are punished, yet there is no consequence/punishment for the politicians.”

Editor’s Request:  When you see a letter in your local newspaper that supports state employees, please fax to Janet at (916) 554-1269 or email to unit1@seiu1000.org.