Got Raises?

November

I am generally agnostic when it comes to present day Unions. I believe they can be both good and also incredibly stupid. I understand why NY State’s public school and health care unions are girding themselves for a fight to retain their raises and budgetary promises. They have to rally the membership. State tax revenues are tanking and, as Governor Paterson is reminding them, their income source is threatened. But placed in context, private sector incomes (and the source of all the revenue) are threatened too. The cash cow of Wall Street tax revenue has evaporated. Unions want to raise taxes on the rich, but, all together now: the cash cow of Wall Street tax revenue has evaporated. And the rest of your average wage-slave New Yorkers are cripplingly over-taxed as it is.

The services these workers provide is vital and affects all of us. Normally I’d be lining up to defend them, but they have to acknowledge the reality of the financial situation. It’s tough to do, but if they are willing to allow give-backs and other concessions, they may actually help out their employers (you and me) and simultaneously save their jobs.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 14th, 2008 at 12:21 pm by Matt Davies.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
|

4 Responses to “Got Raises?”

Richard Tjoa November 14th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
*****

(Boy, I hope the above “comment” shows up properly.)
Matt Davies November 18th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Uh-oh Richard. I’ll take that as a “no comment.” Normally we’re on the same page…Did I lose you with this one? Say it ain’t so!
Richard Tjoa November 18th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Five stars!! (Where’s the rating system??)
Matt Davies November 19th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
That’s a good question Richard. Officially: “I am working on it.” Which is a BS way of saying I’m bugging the tech side of the clockwork-like operation I have here.

I was growing to hate the star rating system…But now it’s gone I miss it. Isn’t there a song about that?

It is a condition of your use of the comment features associated with the blogs that you do not: Use the site to post or transmit any unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane or indecent information of any kind, including without limitation any transmissions constituting or encouraging conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any local, state, national or international law. You alone are responsible for the material you post or send. Refer to the Terms of Service.