SCENES FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Thursday the local paper put, right on the front page, a link to the website that lists every state worker in Michigan showing name-dept-location-hire date and salary. Everyone was fit to be tied. Very ugly around here.

Now I know in the public sector this info is available and foia'able, but it really upset people. People were cancelling their subscriptions at a rate of 75 per hour, the entire website shut down because of everyone accessing it, and the internet comments from the public have been quite nasty.

My big issue with it is how was this newsworthy? It just fueled the fire for everyone. Now people know who you are, what you make and how to find you. Can you imagine how police, undercover detectives and prison folks security is now being threatened? How about your friendly neighborhood stalker or contentious divorces?

I didn't find it a big deal, like most managers, but people are really feeling betrayed around here. Plus they are turning on each other - especially their managers- thinking the same way the public does -we're overpaid! LOL.

One member of the public wrote a comment like "well where else can an uneducated bum get such a great job?" Well I don't know who he talks to, but about everyone I know around here has a degree or several and could probably make more in the private sector, but they want to make a difference in the world. Guess people assume police and fire, children, workers' comp and unemployment, job safety and health will just occur out of the goodness of everyone's heart ---- NOT.

I myself took a large cut in pay to come here. I have no pension (they did away with that years ago), I could probably make more money as a consultant, we have had raises taken away the last several years, we are understaffed but coping, took a week's time off without pay and worked 80 hours for 76 hours pay. We are all willing to do this. I hear the next step being proposed is to forego our raises expected in October, again, and pay 25% of our health care. Folks may grumble but are willing to make these sacrifices. Not get slapped in the face on top of it.

Although I am not too uptight about this, I hear what my employees and others are saying, so obviously people are hurting over this. And to add insult to injury, the salaries listed are in many cases several thousand more than the person makes! How do you correct that little mistake?

The bottom line is - yes people have a right to know. However, when potshots are taken at politicians and CEO's it is a different thing than attacking the powerless. The "connected" are insulated from the slings and arrows of everyday life. Yes, these are good jobs and yes there are slugs in every workplace. But the majority are good people trying to make it. The workers being attached are your neighbors, shop in your grocery store, have kids in school with your kids. And they have to now deal with what you think about them. Publishing the names was uncalled for and cruel.