Union leaders in Delaware criticized Governor Jack Markell’s desire to hike the salaries of several top Cabinet officials after he opposed pay hikes for rank-and-file state employees.
The Wilmington News Journal reports that the Governor’s chief of staff Michael Barlow has proposed raising the salaries of six Cabinet secretaries.
These range from an 8.6 percent raise for Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf to $160-thousand to a 15.5 percent hike for Secretary of State Jeff Bullock to $147-thousand.
Michael Begatto heads the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees which represents 4-thousand state employees.
He told the News Journal that these top officials should not be singled out for pay raises.
The pay hike plan is being reviewed by the six member appointed Delaware Compensation Commission.
