Survey Shows Union-Represented State Employees Earn Significantly Higher Salaries than Nonunion Employees

Report comes at a time when state budget cuts threaten essential public services

The annual AFT Public Employees Compensation Survey is a comprehensive source on salary information for state employee professionals across the country.
 

Washington, D.C.--State employees with collective bargaining rights earn salaries up to 63 percent higher than their colleagues in states without collective bargaining, according to data collected by the AFT Public Employees for its fourth annual compensation survey.

The report comes amid growing pressures to reduce the number of public employees and cut state workers’ salaries and benefits in the face of fiscal crises. State agencies across the country are losing a large percentage of experienced senior staff, due to layoffs, attrition and early retirement pension buy-out options as a consequence of state budget cuts.

“Citizens in a nation as prosperous as ours have a right to expect safe, efficient and dependable delivery of public services,” said Sandra Feldman, AFT president.  “Public employees are the backbone of these services, and this survey clearly shows that union representation ensures continued investment in the public workforce that keeps our society strong.  Unfortunately, the most severe losses in public services hurt those most in need of protection.”

The survey shows that public employees with union representation, by and large, earn higher salaries than nonunion public employees.  Collective bargaining is one important reason for this.  The compensation survey data show, for example, that the weighted median salary for union bridge inspectors is 44 percent higher; correctional officers, 63 percent higher; and senior environmental engineers, 11 percent higher than their counterparts in states without collective bargaining rights.  In only two of the 44 jobs surveyed were the union salaries lower, and then by less than 3 percent.

This year’s AFT Public Employees Compensation Survey reviewed 44 job titles from agricultural specialists to accountants in 46 states.  It includes a table with median and mean salaries and private sector pay estimates for comparable positions. 

 AFT Public Employees also noted that data in this and previous compensation surveys support the conclusion that there is increasing experimentation with pay schedules, including broadbanding, pay-for-performance and merit-pay systems.

“Often in states with experimental salary strategies -- whether because of budget shortfalls or poor program planning -- state employees provide the performance, but states don’t provide the pay,” said Steve Porter, director of the AFT Public Employees division.  “This gives state employees little incentive to stay in public service, thereby increasing turnover and reducing the quality of services.”

“The safety of our bridges, food supply and environment are the kind of guarantees that Americans rightly have come to expect,” said Feldman.  “Responsible elected officials should understand that we need to support a public workforce that has the capacity and expertise to keep this country safe and running smoothly.  Essential public services should be protected, not neglected, during fiscal crises.”

To view the most recent AFT Public Employee Compensation Survey, go to the salary survey section of our Web site.  

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