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City Council President: Firefighters won't get their contract without 'meaningful concessions'
By adamg on Wed, 05/19/2010 - 12:53pm
City Council President Mike Ross, joined by councilors Mark Ciommo, Charles Yancey and Chuck Turner, said today they were prepared to vote against a proposed firefighters contract unless firefighters make significant concessions.
Ross said that while it's unfair firefighters have gone four years without a contract, he's not prepared to give firefighters a larger increase than other municipal employees have gotten just "to come to work sober" when the city is shutting libraries and community centers the year after it closed schools. He said the $74 million price tag is just too much in times like these.
Ross noted that firefighters in other parts of the country - and other municipal workers in Boston - have agreed to wage reductions or deferrals to save jobs.
"I'm certainly prepared to vote this agreement down, if the best interest of the community dictate," he said.
Ciommo echoed Ross, saying that while "the city is in good financial shape; we do have reserves," the proposed contract is not sustainable for the long term.
Yancey questioned whether the council can ask for givebacks because it's not legally allowed to get involved in labor negotations and blasted the Menino administration for getting the council, firefighters and the city as a whole into the mess it's in now.
Turner said the settlement is just not affordable.
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Comments
Cant believe I am going to say this,
but Ross is exactly right. I hope other council members see this "award" as way out of whack. Connolly better think his vote out as it will not be forgotten when he runs for mayor in 3 years.
We'll remember you
Labor won't forget your anti-labor position. The money is there. You got your raise without question and gave the mayor one at the same time. There are 600,000 organized workers in Massachusetts that have been enlightened to your true feelings. Sleep well.
Organized labor was once for
Organized labor was once for workers who were not justly compensated for the work they do. While there are still occupations that still need a labor union (i.e. service workers), many others do not. The other comment is a perfect example of the intimidation tactics used to bully politicians into pandering to excessive raises. What you see in the other comment is a threat. I hope the City Council resists this mob-like intimidation and understands that it is some unions that have become greedy and if they cave into the fear, they'll have a very long summer dealing with the horrific prescedent it will create. Taxpayers are outraged.
Ross's desicion is all about Ross and not the voters...
If you think Ross's decision to vote NO on the firefighter's contract is because he cares about the taxpayer or financial well being of the city, I have some beachfront property for you in Arizona. Make no mistake, Ross never takes a controversial stance unless its good for Mike Ross.
I am sure he was thinking well before the vote, "sure I could go along with the firefighters, but I have not had competition in years and I am the Mayor's former employee/best buddy so I can do no wrong. No, what I have to do is give myself some good publicity after my stupid Arizona vote and set myself up for a run for higher office. Since I really don't need the firefighters, I will go against them on this and look strong to the voters/taxpayers when I am anything but."
I hope SEIU gets a candidate to run against Ross like they are doing to Lynch. If the firefighters are smart they would start to organize their people better. Sad thing is the firefighters, police and teachers are not the power houses they once were. In their quest to defeat residency and live outside the city, they have lost their most important asset - their vote.
The Ross Cronicles...
Frankie, great post! Did you ever wonder what Ross's vote was when it came to giving himself a 16% pay raise? Rhetorical questions aside, Mike Ross is a Ticket Dodging Buffoon! It must be awesome when one can vote themselves a raise without the scrutiny of negotiations and arbitration! Next election cycle I'm going to vote against any "councilor" who votes against this Legally Binding CBA. Oh, wait a second, I won't have to vote against Cuck "show me the money" Turner...He'll be rolling his own in Club Fed! LOL