The $1.4 million in raises for law-enforcement agents in the state's Fish and Wildlife division may smack of a political payoff to a friendly labor union, but other unions say there are bigger forces at work.
"Yeah, they were able to slip (the raise) in. Our people aren't happy," said Doug Martin of AFSCME Council 79, which represents 55,000 state workers.
But, he added, "The raise is legitimate when 25 percent of your employees are leaving."
Some 720 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission workers represented by the Florida Police Benevolent Association are in line for $1.4 million in raises while 120,000 other state employees go without salary hikes for a fifth straight year.
FWC officers currently earn a $31,879 annual, base starting salary.
In reporting the raise package, the News Service of Florida noted that the PBA "is one of the few political organizations that endorsed Gov. Charlie Crists U.S. Senate bid and stayed with him following his break last month with the Republican Party."
Legislators who approved the raises took note of the governor's recommendation that salary increases be given to agencies facing excessive turnover or recruitment difficulties.
Whether the decision was political or economic, Martin told Sunshine State News that exceptions could have been made for a host of other state employees as well.
"We represent non-professional health-care workers in prisons, where there is huge turnover," Martin said.
"What would you rather do -- deal with nasty prisoners or work on the outside for more pay?" he asked.
AFSCME's legislative director went on to complain about misplaced spending priorities in Tallahassee.
"Everyone is hurting, but when politicians spend millions of dollars on trains and other things, it's hard to take your medicine."
Rank-and-file union members say the raises -- or lack of them -- proves the need for strong representation in the public sector.
Mike Osborn, who works in the utilities department of the city of Boynton Beach and belongs to the Florida Public Services Union, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, said:
"This is a perfect example of why workers organize themselves into unions.How would those Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission workers have ever been able to make their political voices heard (via their Crist endorsement) without being organized with the PBA?
"There isn't a public employee in this state who doesn't deserve a raise, but I say good for those PBA members for their astute political work.My local union doesn't begrudge them that money for one second."
Martin and others agree that the economy is the biggest impediment to pay hikes.
In tight times, Martin said AFSCME works, at minimum, to avoid layoffs while maintaining retirement and health benefits that make state employment competitive with the private sector.
"We want the Florida economy to rebound. Everyone is hurting," he said.
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Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
