Posted on 07/16/2009 7:57:44 AM PDT by SmithL
Her speech last week used "fight" four times and "strike" just once, but that was enough to spark reports that Yvonne Walker, president of Service Employees International Union Local 1000, had called for a strike vote.
She didn't, but the speech did mark a new and tougher stance by the local – and a perilous turn for the state's biggest public employee union.
"This week the Local 1000 council voted unanimously to authorize concerted actions up to and including a strike, if necessary," Walker said in the speech webcast to SEIU members last Thursday.
Catch that? "Union actions up to and including a strike."
Walker made her speech the same day that this column reported Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants a 5 percent across-the-board pay cut on top of the thrice-monthly "Furlough Fridays" he has ordered to narrow the state's $26.3 billion budget gap.
The furloughs equal roughly a 15 percent reduction in state workers' pay and save the government's payroll about $1.3 billion over 12 months. If lawmakers don't go along with the added pay cut, the governor could add a fourth Furlough Friday.
The news racheted up angst and anger among many of California's public servants. Soon after Walker's Thursday speech, an anonymous text message circulated, encouraging a sickout on the following Wednesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
I wish I could feel sorry about a government worker getting a pay cut. There are too many anyway.
There is 10%+ unemployment in the US, but how much unemployment is there in Federal, State and local government.
The answer is ZERO.
If the tax revenues are less than they were, how can you keep the same number of employees without some type of paycut?
Old but good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzhbBbZJVN4&feature=channel_page
I said no such thing. My argument was against those who seem to believe that simply because someone chooses a career of public service they are automatically chattel. And you know there are plenty of people who think like that on this site. We have family and dreams too. I understand nothing is guaranteed in life. However, I refuse to accept second-class citizenship because I chose to serve the public. End of.
“My argument was against those who seem to believe that simply because someone chooses a career of public service they are automatically chattel.”
Then you really have no issue with me since I have been careful to refer to the value of work product as opposed to our shared Jeffersonian ideals that we are all equal under the law. I don’t see state workers as chattel, I simply don’t think I’m getting the value that I pay for.
I wish you well Colonel.
That is the theory, but not how it works in fact. The elected representatives have nothing to worry about except get re-elected. Unions have a lot of money and lot of free labor to help their pet representative get re-elected.
Unions are parasites that eventually kill the host. When times are good the symptoms can be hidden but the host is dying just the same. Look at how many industries have been killed in this nations because unions got involved and the business could not adjust to market conditions.
Unions are doing the same to governments. It is just taking longer because taxpayers are forced to pay taxes.
Welcome to the real world where wages are determined by how productive you are to the business that employes you, and can fire you at any time, and cut your pay at any time.
When they cut your pay you have a choice (which is the difference between indenture servants and a free man). You can accept the cut, or you can quit and find another job.
Pardon me. I was unaware we had changed governmental systems, despite who is running the show in Washington at the present time.
"Welcome to the real world". I've been around it, thanks. I'm already well acquainted. If you can show me where I said anywhere in this thread that I'm entitled to anything, feel free to point it out and I'll concede your point. But since you can't, I won't hold my breath.
I'm a casualty of the Obama economy just like a lot of other people.
Owl, thank you very much. I really appreciate it. All I was saying was that people aren’t all bad who work in the public sector. I wish you nothing but the best.
FReegards,
C_F
If our elected representatives were representing the taxpayers how did we get into this mess in California?
I stand by my statement. Unions have an unfair advantage when dealing with governments. Those that should be representing the taxpayers are too easily bought off by unions money and support.
I am sorry you have lost your job. I wish you well in finding another one soon.
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