gotcoues Report post Posted July 9, 2012 http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/09/political-statemate-leads-to-city-workers-salaries-cut-down-to-minimum-wage-in/?intcmp=trending I don't agree with this move at all! Guess when you kick the can down the road long enough this is a possible outcome! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZLance Report post Posted July 9, 2012 If the city is out of money, these workers should be happy they still have a job! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gotcoues Report post Posted July 9, 2012 No way, I wouldn't feel that way. I agree with pay cuts, but man this guy's political future is at the end of its rope I would think..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted July 9, 2012 Doesn't surprise me. I have seen alot of B.S here in Tucson. You drive by a City of Tucson project and you see five City of Tucson guy's watching one guy work. Or all the money they waste on the Rio Nuevo project, or the stupid electric street car deal, downtown. The fat needs to be trimmed at the city, state ,and federal level. All these jobs and projects get milked by lazy people, then they wonder why they run out of money. Thats what happens when you get a Democrat in charge. Scranton is going to be in a world of hurt when everyone quits their job. Oh wait......... Obama will bail out the city, just like he did with all the big Corps that milked the gravy train, while all the little people suffer and pay for it. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted July 10, 2012 If only the federal Gov't would do that. But, it's hard to buy votes at $8.00 an hour. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gotcoues Report post Posted July 10, 2012 I also think he did this as a publicity stunt to get his tax hike passed like stated in the article. I can't see local police and fire fighters making minimum wage. I'm curious to see how this pans out in the next few weeks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deercrazy Report post Posted July 10, 2012 The one word that stands strong throughout this article is the word "Union." This kind of stuff is going on here, but the cops and fireman might have a union, but most city public works guys don't. I work for a west valley city, and have gone without a pay raise for the past 4 years. We got our raise this year, 3%. They also let go everyone except a skeleton crew, so we have been working much harder with less people and equipment. This mayor doesn't respect his people, the very people that carry out his wants and orders and give their heart and sole to the citizens of their community. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkrack Report post Posted July 10, 2012 If the city is out of money, these workers should be happy they still have a job! Easy to say when it’s not your job getting cut. Everybody seems so quick to point out all the flaws. It seems there are a lot of dedicated city/government workers that don't often get a raise and quietly go about doing a great job. I'd bet a dollar to a doughnut if the kind of microscope view they look at state and local government was used on the private sector businesses a lot of you folks throwing out criticism from your glass house would be out of a job pretty darn quick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted July 10, 2012 When cities are out of money they have to make cuts. They cannot print or borrow money to pay their bills like the Fed Gov't can. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tines Report post Posted July 10, 2012 This hits a little too close to home. Paying a full-time police or fireman $7.50hr is just ridiculous. I'm not a proponent of allowing these guys to retire at "108%" but I do support the idea that they're compensated appropriately. If you find that too vague, just try justifying minimum wage the next time you dial 911 because your child stopped breathing, house is on fire or someone's breaking into your house. Don't get me started on how often those scenarios might happen. That will never cross your mind if God forbid it does. What terrifies me more than $7.50 an hr is a mayor or city council that finds this to be a good idea. What else might they consider? Sounds like a thoughtless, knee jerk reaction. If you think you're paying a police or fireman to eat doughnuts or pose for a calendar, think again. To many, 911 is a number to call when there's a life or property in danger. To the rest, 911 is a number to call to fix ANY situation. Either one, they still respond, 24-7. Whether its a simple water leak (although I'm NOT implying 911 is the most appropriate number for this) or you've rolled your family car and wife and child are trapped, do you want the minimum wage employee showing up or a trained professional? Just sayin 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
anthonyrmatthews Report post Posted July 10, 2012 Thanks Tines...well said! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted July 10, 2012 AS to myself, I don't live in a glass house, and I don't criticize without good reason. This economy has damaged my life more than anyone will ever know. Police and Fireman are not part of the big picture as far as city workers are concerned. They have a set job that they do, and cannot get away with the "I don't care" attitude I have seen with so many other city/state workers with mundane jobs. There are exceptions to the rule of course. How many of us have had to go to city/state offices or call on the telephone to only be greeted by the attitude that they are doing a favor by even talking to us? Those are the type of people I am talking about. Not the Cops or Fireman, or even the few others that work hard. Paying police and fireman minimum wage is an insult beyond belief. If that town has had budget problems for years, then someone should have figured it out by now, instead of waiting until the money runs out. Even with the people that work hard, often times it is mismanagement of funds by the upper echelon that creates big problems for those lower on the totem pole. Personally, I have a midwestern Protestant work ethic. I despise laziness in employee's, whomever they work for. SOme of us would love to regain a quality job, with benefits, that so many others take for granted. But thats not the moral too this story, the people that will suffer from a bankrupt city will experience hardship. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kwp Report post Posted July 11, 2012 I often hear city/county/state employees complaining about not getting a raise for years and I question who has gotten a raise in this economy? I work in the private sector and have not only not gotten a raise for years but have continued to get pay cuts. My company had to lay off way over half of the employess we had in 07/08 and those of us who kept our jobs took cuts in our pay and benefits. I'm just thankful that I still have a job. I don't think that there is any arguing that there is a lot of wasteful spending in all levels of our government, and this mayor may not have the right answer but there has to be money to back up the paychecks and if there isn't there have to be cuts somewhere. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted July 11, 2012 I can certainly understand paycuts, but cutting a policeman, or firefighters pay from $35-40K per year down to $15K is way excessive, and potentially catostrophic for many of those people. Theres a big difference in loosing a few bucks an hour compared to a 60% or more reduction in pay. There could be a mass exit by many city workers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted July 11, 2012 So then, if there is no money, how do you pay them? It's easy to say it's wrong to cut them or fire them, but you can't just write checks without money in the bank. Unless you're the Federal Gov't who somehow gets away with operating without a budget. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
