They will most likely publish our names and wages

[SHRED]

I work in the public sector for a city in SoCal in the Public Works Department.

Now that the charter city of Bell has drawn the ire of the citizens with it's outrageous compensation for Council, Safety Services, and City Manager we are all under scrutiny.
As typical of the mainstream media they love taking the exception and making it the rule. This sells talkshows and these talk/news shows have already been broadcasting anti-government (the social service side of government) propaganda for years. All talk/news, except for the moderate NPR, are RW here in San Diego County.

Here is a great article by Amy Traub in The Nation:
War on Public Workers

Anyway, back to my original point.
Last week a regional paper and online publication asked for and got, under an information request, every employee's name, wage, and other pay such as special pay, overtime, and vacation used.
We were told from the City Attorney's office that this is legal. many of us have concerns as to why they needed our names as opposed to an employee number.

So there you have it.
They may have a right to our names (do they really?) but I do not see the point except to stir up contention during these times.
I fully expect this media outlet to cherry pick the data and/or release the list via a link online.

Many of us chose public service for not only the security but out of a desire to serve the public.
This has left a bitter taste in our mouths. We had no idea this level of privacy invasion would take place.
Sure, show our positions and wages, etc...but our names? That can only stir issues.
Bummer.

Being the Chief Steward for the labor group I am scheduled for meetings with Management and Safety Services.
I will try to arrange a meeting with the City Attorney also.

---

[AndyA]

1. That sure sounds like a violation of privacy to me.

If you had run for office, and were elected to a position, that would be one thing, but as an employee I would think this goes too far.

[SHRED]

2. I haven't contacted the City Attorney yet

I will request either the law or legal case that allows this to take place.
No way can we take anyone's word in times like these.
Especially the word of "authority".

--

[SHRED]

4. This is the angle so far...

I just sent an email to our Business Agent formally requesting that the Union's attorney(s) provide us with the law and/or legal precedent that allows the City to release our names to the media.

[NoNothing]

10. It's a public record

And as such is available to the public.

Just like the names of petition signers, remember? They also thought "privacy" should shield them. But if you deal with the government, you ought to expect transparency.

[burnsei sensei]

3. This sounds like trying to kill a mosquito with a sledgehammer.

The conflict had nothing to do with what workers are paid in the here and now.
It had to do with a specific instance in which a person retired with an over-generous pension that would hurt the city.
What was a dispute over one retiree has turned into a major labor dispute-- an excuse to cut, cut and cut even more.
The right has steered this issue well.

[SHRED]

5. They are

And the Hell of it is we have employees and union members in our group who listen to these shows.

[ejpoeta]

6. they already do that here. and what it does is apparently give

citizens a reason to bitch that you make too much money. though it does let us know how much our superintendents are making. they make a lot! and it seems to make it ok to say that teachers shouldn't be making $100k as some of the older teachers are apparently making. i bet though that if we made everyone's wages public a lot of people who seem to think it's ok to do to public workers might not like it. they wouldn't want everyone knowing what they make. this invasion of privacy makes me ill.

[SHRED]

7. And also...

...our tax dollars pay for the defense industry.

Let's see theirs.

---

[tularetom]

8. I always assumed people knew what my salary was

I was a public employee in CA for over 30 years and a department head for about 20. The salary ranges for each job classification were published in the budget every year so while people could not determine who made exactly what, if they knew the job title they could see the range. Department heads of course were a different story. Being only one person for each job title it was pretty simple to connect a person with a salary shown in the budget. Being shown in the budget of course is a lot less invasive that being published on the front page of the local paper. Personal issues such as sick leave and vacation taken are a different story and I believe they are protected.

I guess in those days (I retired 10 years ago) if anyone even noticed what the salaries of public employees were, it was because they either felt sorry for us or ridiculed us for working for such piddly amounts. And you're right - the pay sucked but the job security and benefits made up for it.

I don't envy you but I'm not sure what can be done about it. Hope you are successful at keeping the private aspect of this information private.

[jaxx]

9. Once a year public employees salaries are published here.

It has been that way for years.

[Omaha Steve]

11. Job class, benefits, and scale are all they get here

No individual stats of any kind. I contacted my regional rep at AFSCME to see what US law says about this. State law there I have no idea.

My job classification here: http://www.cityofomaha.org/humanresources/images/stories/public_documents/ft_class_spec/Wastewater%20Treatment%20Plant%20Operator%20%286520%29.pdf

Pay scales here: http://www.cityofomaha.org/humanresources/images/stories/public_documents/pay_plans/civ_bgn/Civil_Barg_2010.pdf

My benefits: http://www.cityofomaha.org/humanresources/images/stories/public_documents/benefits//Civilian%20Barganing%20Benefits%20-%20Revised%20May%202010.pdf

OS

[tblue37]

12. Salaries of professors and administrators at public colleges

are available to the public if anyone wants to check into it--with names included.

[SlipperySlope]

13. Already public record in some locales

Sorry if this is new where you are. Public workers names, job titles, salary, and benefits are already public record here in Colorado.