Wednesday, February 23, 2011

I am not the problem, but....

Recently a blurb started coming around stating that "I am not the problem"... and then started the usual whining about police, firefighters, teachers, etc, not being the enemy and that state legislatures should not attack their rights to bargain. Interestingly enough the first one I got was from a paramedic who works for a private service that gives little or nothing to its employees. They stopped the 401k, cut back on insurance and vacations, and fired employees with benefits that began before new management started cutting things to make ends meet. Many of the employees weren't happy with the cuts, but at least they kept their jobs.
Perhaps some of the public whiners should take a look at what they stand to loose and realize that there are plenty of people who would love their wage and benefit package, even if it was reduced.
In Michigan the legislature wants to remove the third party bargaining from the equation, to keep the talks between the union and the state. Wisconsin on the other hand wants to end collective bargaining all together. MI I can agree with, WI, maybe not. There is no God or Constitutionally given right to collective bargaining, but it has kept wages at a livable level. All parties concerned must understand that you can't pay out when the bank is empty.
I worked for a company that took some severe financial hits, we were due to close at a specific date, a week prior to that our bank account went to zero, we closed our doors. NO money, no pay, no work. Easy enough concept.

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