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Count Your Blessings

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 1, 2009

While I sympathize with Mary Shofi Volpe on the proposed cuts for state workers (letters, March 30), please allow me to share the private sector experience.

Both my husband and I have college degrees, including a master's degree for myself. I work part-time at a hospital; my hours have been cut to five days a month, about one-third of what I normally work. I have had only one raise in the last five years and never had a cost-of-living raise.

My husband, also in management, has had to lay off every employee in his division in the last two years. He has been fortunate to still hold a job that now includes the duties of all previous employees. He does this with a 45 percent cut in salary and was told to be happy that he has a job.

So while the jobs in government were good enough to stay for over 25 years, perhaps some perspective is what Mary really needs. She has enjoyed the protection of a government job with good health care, retirement and job security. Those are not offered in the private sector at this time. Count your blessings, Mary.

KIMBERLY STONE

Tampa

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