employees. whow.

to engage in a battle with the state employee association about cost of living raises to state employees and playing favorites with taxpayer money.

As I learned from my own experience working in state government, public sector employees do earn lower pay than in the private sector because their is more job security and because the pension benefits are more generous (defined benefit plans vs. defined contribution plans) than those in the private sector. However, with the instability of the economy and tight budgets there are now more layoffs and the unfunded liabilities of employee retirement systems no longer means that public employees can expect a somewhat comfortable retirement. The governor's plan to reward only those in selected positions treats the established employees as as second class citizens who are unworthy, particularly if they are able to increase productivity and efficiency in their jobs.

Just the tip of the iceberg no doubt.

As a retired NC state employee, this is what I've come to expect from our Republican state lawmakers.

A recent publication of NCRGEA (NC Retired Government Employees Association) says that cost of living adjustments are designed to protect retirees from the effects of inflation, and over the last 8 years they have not kept pace. The avg inflation rate from 2008-2015 is 1.5% but teachers and state govt. retirees have received an avg of less than 0.3% and local govt retirees have received less than 0.1%. Our economy is recovering and funds are available to provide cost of living adjustments for these employees.

I think this effort to undermine NC state employees is part of a larger effort by the 1% to lower wages, cut benefits, and generally weaken the middle class in the US.

Thanks, Gov. McCrory.

"One of these days, Alice, POW, right in the kisser!"