I have friends in Texas state agencies facing layoffs, but

[Ilsa]

the media is silent about it. I have heard that the state's water development board has reduced staff. Also that agencies related to a major university are reducing force by about 20%. I know someone who was just told that under their reorganization, the rules have just changed, and now everyone will have to reapply for their jobs and even interview again. Some of these people have decades of service, but they are being treated as if they are minimum wage earners. No one can make any financial commitments, forestalling any hope for local economic recoveries.

This is what it looks like when there are no unions.

[plumbob]

1. Yes, about 10,000 state employees and 100,000 teachers will get

the axe. Many more will be reduced in pay by moving them to another job - for instance, I know several tech support people in our district who have been reassigned as elementary school teachers, a position that pays $10,000 a year less.

No unions and no press that will actually cover the news, either.