The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce claimed in their report that private sector workers in Kentucky pay 20% of thier health insurance costs and state employees only pay 3%, but according to the Personnel Cabinet state employees actually pay an average of 15%.
The Chamber claimed that state government pays 97% of the health insurance costs, but according to the Personnel Cabinet Kentucky state government actually pays 84.96% which is below the national average.
The Chamber suggested that employees have wellness programs available to them, but according to the Personnel Cabinet over 12,000 state employees were already enrolled in the Virgin Helath Miles program and the Journey to Wellness program. Additional cost cutting measures already implemented by the state include self funding and lower rates for non-smokers.
The Chamber also claimed that Kentucky state employees average pay is $38,000 per year, higher than the average of $36,855 per year for all occupations in the state, but according to the AFT 2009 Compensation Survey the average pay for state employees lags behind the national average for private sector employees in the same or similar occupations by approximately 25.6%.
Kentucky state employees can be assured that the Chamber will be at the legislature in force to lobby the legislature to balance the budget on the bakcs of state employees. State Professionals of Kentucky provides state employees in the Professional Unit of state government the opportunity to gain representation on the Governor's Employee Advisory Council and consequently in the legislative process so Kentucky state employees will not again have to be the victim in the budget process.
For more information on how to help SPK/AFT become the official representative of Kentucky state employees in the Professional Unit of state government call 502-229-6204.