Taxpayers, State Employee Unions in Brutal Fight
On one side are the embattled state employee labor unions. It is one of the few places where labor unions still have some power left. For decades union membership has been declining all over the country. This is a fight they must fight if they are to survive.
By Guillermo Martinez at Americano
There is much truth behind the old saying: “all politics is local.” Seldom has it been more so than in 2011.
Examples abound of local political fights between state employee unions, which want to maintain their salaries and benefits, and politicians aware that their jobs depend on their keeping taxes low; lowering them if at all possible. In a bad economy it is mission impossible.
In Hollywood, Florida, voters will be asked to revamp employee pensions as the city faces a $36 million shortfall.
In Miami, the administration told four major unions they had 14 days to negotiate new contracts for a second year in a row or face cuts by a city that finds itself trying to fill a $61 million budget hole.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and two county commissioners were recalled earlier this year for raising property taxes in 2010. This year the commission has voted to cut back those taxes – and the monies to pay for those reductions will come out of the salaries, pensions, or health benefits of its employees.
It is not all happening in Florida. The issue is coming in cities and states throughout the country.
In Wisconsin, state employees saw their union rights taken away from them by a Republican Governor and a Republican legislature. Democrats have tried twice to recall some of those who voted for the proposal. They failed.
It’s happening in the US Postal Service, where there is a need to reduce service, post offices, and workers or face going bankrupt. In this political climate the Federal Government will not be able to come to its rescue.
For a second, if we can, let us try and set aside who is to blame and concentrate on describing the issue at hand and its repercussions this year and on to the 2012 November elections.
On one side are the embattled state employee labor unions. It is one of the few places where labor unions still have some power left. For decades union membership has been declining all over the country. This is a fight they must fight if they are to survive.
On the other are the taxpayers of this country. They cannot continue to pay higher and higher local, state and national taxes to satisfy the needs of government-employee unions.Taxpayers understand that government employees at one point gave up higher salaries in the private sector for the safety and benefits of a government union protected job. State employee unions at all levels have benefits that make them privileged. Tax payers are revolting. Unions are entrenched to fight for the negotiated rights.
The fight is on. It will be played out on the national level in November of 2012.
Guillermo is a veteran newsman with experience in print and broadcast journalism in South Florida and throughout Latin America. He won the Inter American Press Association’s Daily Gleaner Award for editorial commentary on Latin America.
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