Firefighters... WTF!?!!?

[brutal]

Elect politicians who refuse to submit to collective bargaining.

Once collective bargaining is allowed, a bargaining unit is elected by the employees. The bargaining unit then can negotiate on behalf of the rank and file and does not have to represent the interest of the members. Bargaining unit leaders are elected, but like most elections, an active minority normally chooses who will be the leaders. If the leaders provide enough "bread and circuses" for their members, they will continue to be elected. The longer the leaders are in office, the less likely they will be opposed and they will operate almost with impunity until either the rank and file throw them out or politicians remove collective bargaining.

What private employers do regarding labor relations makes little difference to me. I find public sector unions absolutely abhorrent. The politicians already work for us (the owners). Why do we need another layer of protection for people employed by the People? Redundant, wasteful, and corrupt; that is my opinion of public sector unions. I would feel the same way regardless of where their union dues are going and who they support.

cstone hit the nail on the head. This Democratic in power BS all started back in the 60's when Kennedy gave Federal workers collective bargaining rights. It's a vicious cycle akin to entitlements. Public sector employees should not be allowed collective bargaining. Pay for performance like the private sector non-union jobs most of us have to work to keep.

[jerrymrc]

cstone hit the nail on the head. This Democratic in power BS all started back in the 60's when Kennedy gave Federal workers collective bargaining rights. It's a vicious cycle akin to entitlements. Public sector employees should not be allowed collective bargaining. Pay for performance like the private sector non-union jobs most of us have to work to keep.

Couple of thoughts. As a fed employee we do not have rights like most unions. At least from what I have seen they are pretty toothless. I am not a member but I am represented by them. I have gone to them twice in 20 years because of stupid stuff and when you get a new boss every 18-24 months that is .mil not all of them have a clue.

Since I have not seen a pay raise in over 4 years and they have no power over the costs of things there is not a lot they can do at least from where I sit.

During the Bush years we started going to NSPS and a pay for performance system. It was costing them much more than they thought and was converted back to the GS system. The people that had been converted made out like bandits even after the switch back. I am sure that there are agency's where many are paid more than they are worth but most of the DOD is not like that.

In the technical fields we are losing many good people because the outside world progresses much faster and there is nothing the union can do. Just some thoughts from my side of the fence.

[U81I812]

FF vote for and fund democrats to ensure the government will keep extorting money from the general public to pay for their million dollar retirement packages and 22k a year health care for life deal. For them this is a higher priority than firearms and freedom.

[encorehunter]

FF vote for and fund democrats to ensure the government will keep extorting money from the general public to pay for their million dollar retirement packages and 22k a year health care for life deal. For them this is a higher priority than firearms and freedom.

Apparently I am working in the wrong place. At 36k a year working 2920 hours (we work a 56 hour work week) a year vs 2180 hours for a 40 hour week person, and now I will be paying 27% instead of 20% of my health insurance and no raise in the last 8 years, I am missing out. We haven't even had a cost of living increase. As for the million dollar retirement, I will have to work another 70 years to get that.
There ares some of us who don't vote with the majority, so please don't lump us all into one.

Maybe we should all just go volunteer. That would save the taxpayers a lot of money. When your insurance rate triples due to a higher ISO rating, please don't be crying. That is what you are asking for.

[jerrymrc]

Apparently I am working in the wrong place. At 36k a year working 2920 hours (we work a 56 hour work week) a year vs 2180 hours for a 40 hour week person, and now I will be paying 27% instead of 20% of my health insurance and no raise in the last 8 years, I am missing out. We haven't even had a cost of living increase. As for the million dollar retirement, I will have to work another 70 years to get that.
There ares some of us who don't vote with the majority, so please don't lump us all into one.

Maybe we should all just go volunteer. That would save the taxpayers a lot of money. When your insurance rate triples due to a higher ISO rating, please don't be crying. That is what you are asking for.

We pay 30% on ours so I know how ya feel. Last raise was jan 2010. I know there are many that believe that if you are in a union no matter how or why then one makes double what a non-union job is and that there is this great free healthcare and incredible retirement.

As seen by some of the headlines in the news over the last few years I can understand this but just as we have seen in the past not everyone is in that boat. Wish I was....

I do hope that after doing 38 years in my current job that the offers I have had will allow me to work a couple of years at a non-union, non-government job so I can make close to double what I do now.