'Very scared' state workers threatened with demotions for complaining about Ron DeSantis' COVID poli

[riversedge]

Source: raw story





‘Very scared’ state workers threatened with demotions for complaining about Ron DeSantis’ COVID policies: report
John Wright September 27, 2021


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Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' "efforts to keep Florida open" have had devastating impacts on state agencies — with entire offices closing due to outbreaks, and three state prisons shuttering due to a lack of corrections officers, the newspaper reported Monday.

"The workers are very scared," said Vicki Hall, president of a union that represents nearly half of Florida's 105,000 state employees. "The governor wants everything open and running. ... Management is not taking it seriously."


DeSantis' administration ordered state workers to return to their offices last October, with social distancing and masks optional.

One Department of Revenue employee complained recently that, "They don't tell us when people have been in the building sick. We have to hear through the grapevine that someone is in the hospital or dead. If we complain, we are offered demotions."

Democratic state Sen. Loranne Ausley told the newspaper, "Many state employees live in fear of making any noise. They call us and don't even say what agency they're calling from."...................................

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Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/ron-desantis-2655176400/

[Phoenix61]

1. Not the least bit surprised. nt

[Kid Berwyn]

2. DeSantis is a mass murderer.

Silencing whistleblowers helps the little Nazi keep on killing.

[bluestarone]

3. Spitin image of TFG!

Scary that he's the Governor!

[Baitball Blogger]

4. We need to change our laws, and quickly.

This is one step before contracted hits.

[appleannie1]

5. I would rather quit and look for work out of state than die for DeathSentence.

[DanieRains]

6. Just Heil Hitler And Go To Work

Just get your job done and don't complain. Someone has to impress the magat death squad primary voters.

Time to get on board the death train.

I met 2 women from Florida last night in Seattle. I forgot to ask them if they felt lucky to get out alive.

[Marthe48]

7. Isn't rebellion a 2 way street?

If it isn't, it should be. people like tx. and fl. governors should be removed from office, arrested and tried for crimes against the U.S. and crimes against humanity.

[csziggy]

8. Florida used to have very strict rules about demoting or firing state employees

As soon as Jeb Bush got into office, those rules were weakened - to the point where Democrats working for the state began keeping political bumper stickers off their cars because it made them targets for Republican appointed supervisors.

Here how hard it used to be to fire a state worker: My husband used to work for the Department of Motor Vehicles, in the office that made sure tickets got put on people's driver records. One guy was caught "fixing" tickets, taking points off his buddies' records. He was given two weeks to put the points back on. If he'd done that, he would have kept his job. He didn't so was fired and criminally charged.

Now if a worker says something their supervisor doesn't like, especially if it is politically oriented, they can be fired at will. Before workers had a sort of tenure after their starting probationary period and after that they were very safe. This was one reason many people went for state jobs - they didn't pay quite as much as private sector, but once you were in they were safe and the benefits were great.

Over the last twenty years with Republicans in charge, the benefits have been eroded, pay has been stagnate, and now even the job is not secure. I'm surprised people still consider working for the state anymore. With the lack of info about Covid cases, I would run out of a state job!

[obamanut2012]

10. I knwo someone who works at a state college

They have had two raises in 15 years, both 3%, the last several years ago. In that time, their rent has risen from $500 a month to $1,900 a month. They are not able to leave because of a family medical issue, and because who would hire a 63-year-old woman?

[csziggy]

11. Yes, I know people who kept working even with the lousy pay

Because otherwise they couldn't get insurance to cover a family member.

I worked at Workman's Compensation for a year. Was promised a pay increase after six months and another at one year. I got no pay increase at all that year and it was part of the reason I left. I was a Clerk II - Clerk I paid less than minimum wage and I don't see how any of them managed to survive.

[obamanut2012]

9. As far as I know, there are no state employee unions in FL

Except for teachers, LEOs, COs, and Faculty. "Regular" university, prison, DMV, etc. staff have ZERO protection. None. And are not allowed to have any.

Universities and state colleges are wide open, no masks or vaccines mandates, professors and staff cannot make anyone wear masks in their classrooms or offices.

[csziggy]

12. American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is in Florida

Just as my husband and I were leaving state employment, a friend was involved in getting AFSCME into state offices. I am not sure what percentage of state employees are in the union but since Florida is a "right to work" state, anything AFSCME does to improve conditions helps them all.

AFSCME of Florida: https://www.afscmefl.org/

[turbinetree]

13. In almost ever state in this country there is a law(s) that it is against the law to cause harm to

someone willfully....

[AZLD4Candidate]

14. He must have learned this from school principals, who threaten teachers with not recommending

contract renewals for them if they don't "fall in line" and "do what the administration demands."

Tin horn dictators are everywhere.

[monkeyman1]

15. mini -trump won't last long as soon as he hit's private sector again !

called un-employable !

[Grokenstein]

16. Dear antivaxxers: Please, do tell us more about "tyranny."

[Swede]

17. Madness.

It's a madhouse run by madmen.

[BlueWavePsych]

18. DeathSantis ...

[quaker bill]

19. I am increasingly validated

in my decision to retire early and not deal with DeSantis.