PA state employees not getting paid - how is this legal?

[mumom95]

I don't live in PA, so this doesn't effect me. But I just read a story on the internet that 69,000 Pennsylvania state employees won't be getting paid this payday for days after July 1st. Apparently, once they finally reach a budget agreement, they will then get their money, but they won't get paid interest or anything on the late money.

How is this legal? Can the state just say "we aren't paying you for a while" especially on work they've already done? And do these people still have to go to work while they aren't getting paid? I realize you can't get blood from a turnip, but it just find it so hard to believe that this is legal.

What I wonder too is are the lawmakers that can't come to a budget agreement in that 69,000 number or are they still getting paid?

 

[JR6ooo4]

You see, they just chose the wrong career. THey should be politicians, where no one else matters and no rules or laws apply. Including morals...

Mikeeee

 

[golfgal]

There is probably something in their contract that allows them to do this. At least they will get their money some day. I know several years ago MN furloughed all state employees for a month or so when they went over budget. They never got that money.

 

[agnes!]

California is handing out IOUs like they were party favors.

agnes!

 

[disney1990]

I know that the Federal government has being doing this for years. When the new budget gets passed, everybody gets paid.

 

[OK!]

I don't know how they can do it, but IL state employees just got paid yesterday after what I believe was a several-week delay. All of their paychecks were supposedly hand-delivered to them once the budget got straightened out (relatively speaking).

 

[agnes!]

I don't know how they can do it, but IL state employees just got paid yesterday after what I believe was a several-week delay. All of their paychecks were supposedly hand-delivered to them once the budget got straightened out (relatively speaking).

I bet the politicians' paychecks and benefits never stopped...

agnes!

 

[mumom95]

I didn't realize it happened that often (I did know about California's IOU's).

At least with furlough days you don't have to work (I know that doesn't matter when you need the money), it just floors me that government employees will show up to work, do their job, then the state can decide not to pay them for a while for work already done. I used to think that working for the state was a pretty stable, safe job. Apparently I was wrong.

And Agnes you are probably right, I doubt the politicians benefits and pay never came a day late. And they probably voted themselves a raise that year

Do you think I can get a clause put in my tax contract that says I can defer my tax payments when I don't feel like working out my budget?

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I just heard about this yesterday. A friend's sister won't be getting paid. I think this is completely unfair, a lot of those people live paycheck to paycheck, and this is really going to hurt them.

 

[onelilspark]

I don't think this is the first time it's happened in PA. Just about everytime they pass the budget, this happens. So I'm sure everyone has a backup plan.

 

[Nascia]

I'm from PA and can tell you this is not the first time it has happened. From my understanding the pols don't get paid until the budget is passed either. I do know that many of the credit unions are giving no cost/ interest free loans to help cover expenses until the state employee gets paid. I'm not sure of the exact terms, but do have some friends which are taking advantage and seem to think it is a great thing.

 

[mumom95]

I'm from PA and can tell you this is not the first time it has happened. From my understanding the pols don't get paid until the budget is passed either. I do know that many of the credit unions are giving no cost/ interest free loans to help cover expenses until the state employee gets paid. I'm not sure of the exact terms, but do have some friends which are taking advantage and seem to think it is a great thing.

Glad to see the credit unions stepping up and helping in these tough economic times.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

You don't pay me I don't work. Why aren't more people protesting this?

 

[lisajl]

You don't pay me I don't work. Why aren't more people protesting this?

Maybe if they don't show up to work, they may lose their jobs.

 

[mumom95]

You don't pay me I don't work. Why aren't more people protesting this?

That's what I was wondering at first. But I guess, if a person doesn't work, that give the employer grounds to fire them, and in this job market, who wants to lose their job. I guess it's better to have a job and have to wait a month or so to get paid than not have a job.

I know if it were me, I'd be ticked off and I don't think I'd vote for a single person currently in office during the next election. They should have figured it out and come to a compromise well before the deadline.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

Sounds like it's time for a picket line.......

 

[tazdev3225]

I live in PA. The governor and the senate are at an impasse over the budget. The governor wants to raise the state income tax to 16% and also wants other cutbacks. The senate refuses to pass this and the governor refuses to go along with the senate's plan. It is in the state constitution that without a budget employees aren't paid as well as bills. In Philadelphia the state workers have been protesting at the governor's house, he is from here and was our mayor for two terms. This attitude from him is nothing new, I lost my benefits the first year he was in office because my DH had benefits. I believe that if the employees don't show up they risk losing their jobs. I hope the senate wins this fight though because a 16% wage tax is a huge jump from what we pay and in this economy doesn't seem like an answer. I just hope they reach an agreement soon.

 

[olena]

I didn't realize it happened that often (I did know about California's IOU's).

At least with furlough days you don't have to work (I know that doesn't matter when you need the money), it just floors me that government employees will show up to work, do their job, then the state can decide not to pay them for a while for work already done. I used to think that working for the state was a pretty stable, safe job. Apparently I was wrong.

And Agnes you are probably right, I doubt the politicians benefits and pay never came a day late. And they probably voted themselves a raise that year

Do you think I can get a clause put in my tax contract that says I can defer my tax payments when I don't feel like working out my budget?

No, they always get their money and at the point of a gun if needs be. There's no two-way street with government.

If this is the fault of PA's legislative body and it's happened before, why isn't there major turnover at election times?

 

[shellybaxter]

California is handing out IOUs like they were party favors.

agnes!

But not to actual employees. They did that last time and lost a fair wage lawsuit because they did not pay minimum wage. That's why state workers are being furloughed this time around instead of getting IOUs. I would imagine PA workers would fall under the same wage laws. Maybe they will sue as well

 

[jrmasm]

But not to actual employees. They did that last time and lost a fair wage lawsuit because they did not pay minimum wage. That's why state workers are being furloughed this time around instead of getting IOUs. I would imagine PA workers would fall under the same wage laws. Maybe they will sue as well

Some feel that PA state workers are covered by FLSA. If so, the cost to the state could be huge.