As a wild land firefighter for the Division of Forestry, a State of Alaska employee for the past 15 seasons (in a seasonal employee) I would like to respond to everyone in the private sector who chooses to bash us, the State employee. My question for you is this. Did your union negotiate out a 0,0,0 increment increase for the next 3 years? I know the construction trade unions increase wages every year. People want to say it is the State employee fault. The wildland firefighters in your State of Alaska are compensated extremely poorly compared to the structure firefighters who also provide an essential service. My brothers and sisters on the wildland side do not have year round insurance, are funded for 4 months a year and receive less pay than city, professional, firefighters. In regards to other State employees. State employees make significantly less than their private sector counterparts. If you, the people who want to be rid of expensive State employees, look at the bigger picture.