Bell to Bell week May 18-22: you've got great stories
State Workers United: Unified coalition of state employee unions forms to fight salary cut proposals
Huge Rally of state workers being planned for early May. Bring family, friends and neighbors!
DSEA to governor: No to 8-10% salary cuts
Bill introduced to protect retirees
Summary of Governor's budget proposals
Governor Markell's proposed budget in power point
DSEA's position and messages
Budget facts, message presented to DSEA Rep. Assembly 3-10-09
Email newsletter to members in Brandywine with Call to Action message
What DSEA has done and is doing

Click here to download "Community Bucks" to let merchants know the hit you will take in your ability to spend if your salary is cut 8-10%.

Bell to Bell Week May 18-22 gets amazing press coverage

It all started with Tuesday morning's News Journal coverage of the Bell to Bell activity at Mt. Pleasant H.S. in Brandywine, with comments by BEA President Dave Bradley and DSEA President Diane Donohue.

WBOC-TV came to Milford H.S. Tuesday afternoon and did this fantastic piece on their news that night.

Tuesday afternoon DSEA President Diane Donohue was up at Mt. Pleasant H.S. (with Brandywine E.A. President Dave Bradley and his colleagues), doing a news story for Channel 6, the ABC affiliate out of Philadelphia. It was certainly the News Journal’s coverage on Tuesday at Mt. Pleasant that really got this ball rolling.

Wednesday, Diane did a wonderful on John Watson’s call-in talk show on WILM News radio 1450. She was on for 45 minutes. The majority of callers were very supportive and to others, she empathized, and then said that throwing DE’s economy into worse shape would not help people find new jobs or improve their small business opportunities; it would just make our economy worse; that we need a long-term solution to improve the economy, not a short-term “fix” that won’t last….

WHYY Radio (NPR station out of Philadelphia) also interviewed Diane on Tuesday.

Delaware State News visited Nellie Stokes E.A. to interveiw and take pictures of their solidarity walk out of the building at the "bell." Thursday's front page carries a great picture and interviews with Laura McWilliams, Adam Warner and DSEA Vice President Mike Hoffmann. (Diane was at an Indian River E.A. Rep Council meeting.)

Way to go! Reporter Leah Burcatt mentions Thursday's Unity Rally for all state workers on Legislative Mall, bringing home the fact that this protest affects 32,000 state workers.

The Cape Gazette came to Shields E.S. Thursday morning for photos and story….

Middletown Transcript has a story in their paper this week, thanks to Julie Harrington, president of the Appo ESP local.

On Wednesday afternoon, Rick Jensen, talk show host on WDEL 1150AM 3-4pm devoted the hour to state workers. Several of you were able to call in. Jensen’s hook is that since there are millions of dollars wasted because of the state’s credit card usage and writing paper checks (from Sunday’s News Journal story), the state now has found the money to not have to institute the salary cuts.

The best story comes from little Delmar, where Debbie Kennan, the local union president there, tells us that:
"Joanne Gum, school board president, 'commended' the teachers at the Board Meeting last night for NOT taking part in "Bell to Bell."  I later informed her that we were really not to be commended on that, and that Wed. we would be working bell to bell. About 25 people met outside for coffee and doughnuts and Dr. Ring, Delmar's superintendent, joined us." 

 

 

DSEA, DSEA-Retired, AFSCME, State Troopers and FOP lobby legislators in Dover - together, in unity

From now through June, Wednesday will be Lobby Day for the coaltion of state employees that has formed to fight for a state budget that does not include an 8-10% reduction in salary; that does include fairer and more responsible ways to raise revenue. See below.

Called State Workers United… for a better Delaware, the coalition is growing and currenly includes:

• Delaware State Education Association (DSEA) and DSEA-Retired  - active and retired teachers, school specialists and educational support personnel – 11,500
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSME) - 7,000
• Delaware State Troopers Association (DSTA) – Delaware’s state police officers
• Correctional Officers Association of Delaware (COAD) – the state’s correctional guards - 1,566
• The State Lodge of the FOP
• FOP Lodge 3 – DNREC, ABCC enforcement agents and deputy state fire marshalls - 100
• FOP Lodge 10 – Probation and parole officers - 75
• FOP Lodge 11  - Capitol police officers
• Communication Workers of America Local 13101 - workers at the Dept. of Safety and Homeland Security
• Teamsters Local 326 - security guards at the Port of Wilmington, and
• The Delaware Attorney Generals Investigators Association – criminal investigators who work in the Delaware Attorney Generals office - 33
• United Food and Commercial Workers Local 27 – Delaware Family Court employees (238)
• Laborers' Local 1029, LiUNA ! Laborers' International Union of North America

The Coalition has a plan that includes members from each union forming teams to lobby legislators together, every Wednesday, as partners in our battle to say NO to such devastating cuts, and YES to fair and equitable tax reform.
Shown here are DSEA members Philip Kaplan (front row left, vice president of Red Clay E.A.), Claudia Bock (front row, red jacket, president of the Christina E.A.), DSEA-Retired members Jim Testerman (second from right front) and Steve Smith (back row, far right). With them is DSEA's Director of Legislation and Political Organizing, Tim Barchak, standing between Smith and Testerman.
If there is any way, you can ever come to Dover by 12:30 on a Wednesday to be part of these lobbying teams, please contact DSEA's Gerri Coble. Thank you!

State Worker United activities

Monday, April 27: Legislative Reception for members and the state legislators from New Castle County, plus members of the Education and Joint Finance Committees. 5:30-7:30pm. All members invited. Clayton Hall, University of Delaware.

Week of May 4: Show Your Support Week. All DSEA members are encouraged to wear something red every day of that week to show the red ink you are being asked to absorb.

Rally at Legislative Mall, in May 6 - This is for ALL STATE EMPLOYEES. Begin gathering at 3:00. Speeches begin at 5:00pm. Legislative Mall, west side of Legislative Hall, Dover. Wear your association t-shirts, or something red. Bring signs. Families, neighbors and supportive friends are welcome.

Monday, May 18 - Kent County Legislative Reception, Duncan Center, Dover, 6:30-8:30pm

Thursday, May 21 - 5-7:00pm Unity Rally and Candlelight Vigil on Legislative Mall for all state workers

Wednesday, May 27- Sussex County Legislative Reception, The Brick Hotel, on the Circle, Georgetown, 6-8pm

June 11 - 3-6:00pm - Solidarity Rally on Legislative Mall for all state workers

DSEA to Governor: No to 8%-10% salary cuts

On Friday, March 27, 2009, President Diane Donohue, Executive Director Howard Weinberg and Tim Barchak, DSEA’s Director of Legislation and Political Organizing met today with Governor Jack Markell and his Chief of Staff, Tom McGonigle. 

The purpose of the meeting was to keep the lines of communication open about the Governor’s proposed budget.  To recap; in order to make up the $750 million budget deficit, the Governor’s proposed budget includes all of the following:

• $331 million from spending reductions (91.7 million of which is the 8% salary cut)
• $40 million from reallocating special funds
• $166 million from increased revenues
• $155 million from the federal stimulus fund
• $12 million from additional fines and fees
• $55 million from a sports lottery (reauthorize a sports lottery in DE; allow sports lottery at casinos and other venues; increase the state’s share of casino revenues; and add up to three new casinos)
  
  We communicated to the Governor that an 8% salary cut is unacceptable. This type of salary cut would be devastating not only to public education employees, but to the public education system. We shared that DSEA believes that, while the Governor did propose a significant increase in revenue; that his increased revenue proposals do not go far enough.  We believe that any revenue proposal must be adjusted in whatever way necessary to raise the additional $91.7 million (the value of the 8% cut). 
  
  The Governor stated that he is open to sharing any information regarding additional revenue sources. At his encouragement, DSEA will be submitting a list of questions/recommendations which we believe could help bring additional revenues to the state and give the Governor and General Assembly a way to eliminate the need to cut salaries by 8%.
  
  The Governor also indicated that he and DSEA will both be keeping a keen eye on the April, May, and June meetings of the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC) because with weakening trends in the economy, it is certainly possible that revenue projections could continue to decline, which would lead to an increase in the shortfall from $750 million to something bigger. 
  
  The Governor indicated that he recognized the challenges these proposals place upon state employees and tax payers. He reiterated that these choices were driven by the state’s obligation to balance an historic $750 million shortfall and the wage cut was an alternative to laying off 1,500 people. 
  
  And we reminded him that our priorities are no layoffs AND that an 8% salary cut is unacceptable. DSEA believes that this type of wage cut will not produce a world-class education system or economic prosperity and will, in fact, produce significant hardships for the families of Delaware and their children. 
  He also said that he was committed to the proposed wage cut being temporary and that is why he has also asked DSEA to support the gaming revenue in his budget proposal which is currently under attack from the state’s casinos, racetracks, race horse organizations, even the NCAA. The NCAA is threatening to not give any Delaware team home advantage during playoffs if sports lotteries come to Delaware. 
  
  At the present time, DSEA has no official position on the expanded gaming which the Governor is proposing. Be that as it may, the state does need this revenue and without it, the state’s budget situation would be $55 million worse.We would need to find not only the $91.7 million (the 8%), but also the $55 million that would be generated from the expanded gaming proposal, or another $145 million would need to be found. 

What happens next?
The development of the state's budget is ultimately the responsibility of the General Assembly. The Joint Finance Committee will take the Governor's proposals and decide where to make any adjustments. This joint committee will then introduce their final bill to the General Assembly in time for them to vote on it by the end of session, June 30.

DSEA's position is clear:
Cutting education and other core state services will not grow our economy, and is irresponsible and unfair

During these tough economic times, we have to establish the right priorities for Delaware. Our objective is not simply to close the state budget deficit, but to close the education deficit and the jobs deficit. We need to grow our state's economy for the long-term and our public schools are a vital part of that strategy. Education, after all, is the cornerstone of economic development.

The state deficit is not the fault of teachers who work hard to educate our children. Nor is it the fault of our students who need great public schools.

In the state budget, we need to put education and essential state services first. For years we have neglected to pay for quality schools compared to our neighboring states.

The last thing we need to do is cut our future, our children's future, cut core services in those very areas that will help our economy grow for the long-term. Doing less is irresponsible.

It is also unfair, given that there are revenues available simply by making our state's tax system fairer.

How is that?
1. Our personal income tax structure is obsolete and unfair to people earning $60,000 or less.
2. Our corporate climate is one of the most favorable in the nation thanks to the Chancery Court system, no usery laws, and the corporate tax structure. We believe that with some adjustments to the franchise tax, for example, we could see millions in additional revenue.
3. By reinstituting the tax on inherited wealth (which was eliminated in 2005), we could bring in $45 million - half of the $90 million gained from the 8% cut to state employee salaries!

Governor Markell believes that he has made the best of bad choices. We disagree: there are other choices that we believe are more responsible and fairer, and will Save Our State and Save Our Schools.

Governor reveals budget proposal

On March 19, Governor Jack Markell released his budget.

• An 8% pay cut for all school employees (8% cut from the state portion of your pay). Overall, this is worth $90 million.
• Three professional development days eliminated from the school calendar, and these will be days off without pay, i.e. furlough days, equalling approximately 1.6% of your salary.
• No step increases for next year for any school employees.
• Elimination of the "double state share" for those families where both spouses are state employees. In other words, husbands and wives who are both state employees will have to enroll for health care where only one of them is head of household.
• For state merit employee members, the continued freeze of all career ladder promotions begun last year, and
• Replacing three existing state holidays with three floating holidays in order to reduce holiday and premium pay expenses for essential employees.

In addition, the State Employee Benefits Committee has voted to increase by 50% monthly contribution towards insurance premiums.

There may be no lane changes next year. Payments for national board certifications, lead mentor positions and skills and knowledge clusters of professional development will continue to be suspended.

In his powerpoint presentation to the media, Markell said that all state employee unions had said No Layoffs. This was DSEA's position as well. These cuts in compensation, however, are unacceptable.

The Governor's budget proposal is a combination of cuts and new revenue to generate $750 million, making Delaware one of the top three hardest-hit states.

• $331 million in spending reductions ($90 million from the 8% salary cut)
• $40 million from the reallocation of Special Funds
• $166 million in increased revenues (personal income taxes, franchise taxes, sin taxes, etc.)
• $155 million from the federal government's stimulus bill
• $55 million from a reauthorized sports lottery and other revenue from gaming, and
• $12 million in increased fines and fees.
  

What we have done and are now doing

There are revenue possibilities that DSEA is currently examining with NEA funding experts as well as an outside tax expert. We believe that the state needs to reform taxes, raise additional revenue and grow our way out of this situation, using our first-rate education system. Three areas especially are unfair: our Personal Income Tax structure is obsolete and unfairly burdens people earning less than $60,000; our corporate taxes are the lowest in the country; and there is no tax in Delaware - since 1985 - on inherited wealth. Experts estimate that by reinstituting that tax, the state could bring in $48 million which is half the $90 million from the 8% salary cuts.

We are also working with an actuarial firm to examine the health care funding situation.

DSEA leaders have repeated that this organization does not believe it is responsible to attempt to cut our way out of a $750 million budget shortfall. We believe that revenue must be raised (and can be raised with a fairer tax system) to protect essential public services including education in order to grow our way out of the current crisis. 

President Diane Donohue told reporters at the governor's press briefing, "Our schools are trying very hard to be more accountable. We need to keep salaries whole to create the level of success in our schools that we all want," she emphasized. "We are saying, No, not only is it disappointing and troubling, it is totally unacceptable. Combined with the health care increases, for many state and school employees, this will represent a 10% salary cut. Taking away the three professional development days hurts education and teachers, and adds another 2% to the salary cut. Hurting the very people who provide for our children's future, who deliver essential services to all Delawareans will hurt our state, not help it."

New bill HB 101 seeks to protect retiring state employees

In calculating a state employee's retirement income, the highest 36 consecutive months (three years) of earnings are used. "It doesn't strike me as equitable that a state employee that's getting ready to retire should have their pension income impacted by a wage cut," says State Rep. Bill Oberle. "These employees would be taking a double hit, not only getting smacked by the initial cut, but also suffering a long-term loss as a result of their lower pension payment."

Rep. Oberle is the prime sponsor with all other House members listed as sponsors or co-sponsors.

"We see this as non-partisan legislation to protect the welfare of our retiring state workers," Rep. Cathcart says. He adds that every member of the House has signed on as a co-sponsor of the measure.

Rep. Oberle adds that the bill protects retiring workers' pensions in the event their wages should be cut, regardless of whether the reduction is larger or smaller than that which has been proposed by Gov. Markell.

"State employees that have made retirement plans based on their expected earnings shouldn't have the ruge pulled out from them at the last minute, Rep. Dan Short says. "The bill doesn't give them preferential treatment: it treats them fairly."

 

 

Contracts

News

Salaries

Member Only Discounts