I’ve noticed time and time again how in the last year or so, in this economy, unions fight for their employess, (as they should) to not give up their contractually set raises. Firemen, police and whomever else.
I understand their concerns about being shorted… but inevitably, a few months later the lay offs come around the corner to those very orgs that previously shot down the idea of staving off their pay raises.
Right now in Palo Alto, the firefighters union had agreed to forego a 4% pay raise, but those who are retiring are concerned about their pensions being set by their last year of employ and it seems they had enough pull to get the union to back out of the agreement.
I’m sure there’s a ton more to it than meets the eye from the article I scanned… but let’s see – It’s September. I’m betting in December or January we’ll be hearing about staff being cut to meet cost cutting demands.
I just feel bad for the folk who weren’t part of the idea to back out and will be finding themselves out “on the street” looking for employ.
That’s all.
