Front-line state employees earn every penny

Several letters to the editor have appeared recently regarding the retirement system in place for state employees. Unsure how the whole issue got started, I feel the need to clarify and defend the current pension system in place for state employees.

As a recent retiree from the Illinois Department of Corrections, I served the citizens of this state for more than 25 years. For roughly the past 10 years, staffing decreased dramatically; hence, workloads increased sharply.

When I retired, I was doing what four employees would have done before, and no overtime was available because of budget problems. Stress levels have increased dramatically and safety levels for staff have decreased greatly.

Yes, regardless of what top guns in Springfield tell you, our state prisons are not safe places for employees any more. There have been numerous times through the years where pay raises were nonexistent or did not keep up with the cost of inflation, and we were often threatened with unpaid furlough days, all so that you, my fellow taxpayers, would not see any tax increases.

All the while, a large percentage of my pay was taken to contribute to my own retirement, even though I feared the money might not be there when retirement time rolled around because of our current governor and his predecessor borrowing heavily from the pension system to pay other bills 6 to 8 months late because of their own irresponsibility.

Think what you may, but state employees – at least the non-elected, front-line staff – earn every penny of their retirement. For those who disagree, try doing what I and my co-workers have done, and then see how you feel.