The 5% ask

Contracting out costs more. Have seen it time and time again.

Self destruction because of greed...You should know phil, you got what you needed from the steel plant before the self destruction and you weren't even in the union ???

You'd better look long and hard at CEO pay scales, Boards of Directors pay scales and that of our elected officials at all levels before talking about greed on the part of unions and what and who are bankrupting this country.

You know what you get when you contract out public services to the private sector? People get paid less but more goes into profits. No savings. The state is doing just that, and the contractors get paid much more than the state workers. Ask anyone working for DOT. But the amount in the "payroll" column is less so the politicians in charge pretend to the taxpayers that they are saving money. Smoke and mirrors. Edwards and the Observer lied by stating the union's starting position, not thier last position, because they aim to destroy unions in our country. The only protection for the 99%.

As explained in today's paper the 5% was at the beginning of the negotiations. You always start with more than you expect to get (bought a car ever?)

Sounds like the Union has made many concessions. I would like to hear what the County started at, how much they have negotiated, given up?

And Phil, this County cannot afford NOT to have Union workers. The unions build up the middle class...that we ALL benefit from.

Wiseup- You could say the same about corporations and many government 'leaders'.

I wish that people would try and get the facts straight...before they talk or blog or whatever...I was recently at a closed CSEA meeting. The union negotiating team did not want to speak publicly, until they could bring the news directly to the membership. What I heard is summorized as follows. CSEA offered the county a 2 year freeze on wages,and other small concessions, and agreed to look at other options for a voluntary medical plans to reduce cost for the county at 1.7 million per year. They were not countered...they were told "not good enough,try again"...the county wants a 4 year contract. Obviously to get past the re-election for the executive and his administration...so after much give and take we are at an impasse...so the better conversation here would be...why did the county exec. walk away from a 2 yr contract that would save the taxpayers 1.7mil/yr (+) depending on medical savings?????? Lets all think about it!!

One thing is certain - this area can no longer afford union employees. It is union greed that is at the foundation of the decline of this area. The only short term answer is to eliminate as many union jobs as possible and replace them with services that are contracted out to the private sector. Radio commentor Paul Harvey once said "history is full of stories of people who self destructed because of greed". I suspect that todays unions will have to take their place in history.

Can't trust the Unions. Too much greed and their learders can't tell the truth.