What does this say about public employees when the city government thinks there may be $40 MILLION in concessions that they may be able to give up? Even if they determine it is only $10 million, WHAT DOES THIS SAY?
Places that operate like this will always be left behind by places where the people are more economically savvy; these situations arise mostly in areas where the “consumers” of the services aren’t the ones PAYING FOR THEM (welfare reservations, illegal aliens bridgeheads into the country, etc.).
If the original problem doesn’t lie with public unions why does the solution always lie with public unions?
In St Louis the Firefighter Disability payments alone consume half the firefighting budget. Firefighters on full disability are operating tree trimming businesses, pouring concrete, playing golf, playing softball, .... And yet the firefighter union is fighting the city on it tooth and nail to keep this corruption going.
Their image as heroes has turned to full tarnish. They are parasites who would rather see their host city go belly up rather than miss a meal. Once these parasites got a hold, they won't let go.
The prevailing mindset in many public unions is on display when they are asked to delay a raise in order to prevent the layoffs of their fellow union members. Too often their reply has been, “Too bad for them but screw ‘em and give us our raise.”