By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis – Missouri Secretary of State Matt Blunt says all state employees deserve more money, but only if pay raises are given equally.
The Service Employees International Union held protests in St. Louis and Kansas City Wednesday, claiming Blunt opposes pay hikes for many of its members.
A proposal by Governor Bob Holden would grant a larger increase to unionized workers than to regular state employees. Blunt says that's merely a political favor.
"And it's wrong, I believe, to provide employees with an additional pay raise over and above what their fellow employees in state government are going to receive because they're represented by a collective bargaining organization that also has been very supportive of the administration."
Holden's proposal would give most state workers a two percent pay raise, while some unionized employees would get a four to 10 percent increase.
Blunt is challenging Holden in the November Governor's race.