Comment

Comment by Joe Strange on September 30, 2010 at 10:47am

Why can't the unions "help out"? It seems to me that the whole nation is suffering through this "recession" which would include every city in the country.


I'm not addressing the fire or police unions only......I'm talking about all of them, including all government employees.


One thing we all can agree on is that we are ALL citizens of a city, county, state & country. I bring this up because of what coverage the local news gave us a while back about the unions refusing to negotiate on any level or direction.


While the private sector was and is scared to death about just keeping their jobs, let alone worrying about a pay cut. A good friend's wife had a contract with a large coporation that gave her a 3% raise annually. Fearing the nation wide recession, trying to do her part and trying to just keep her job, voluntarily gave up her annual raise. She not only forfeited her raise but was let go several months later.


My point is that we all need to help out.


I do not recall if any of the unions "helped out" in this time of crisis. If they have, please let me know.


This post is NOT meant to criticize anyone......It is only my opinion.

Comment by Kurt D Wullenweber on September 30, 2010 at 10:43am

I can't say I know the inner workings of the Jax police and fire departments, but I have seen quotes about "desk positions". Where is it written that officers, at full pay, should be doing clerical work?
I'm sorry, but KellyGirl could supply clerical personnel at about 1/4th the paygrade of a veteran officer.
I'm sure the same holds true in the fire dept. Again, we MUST put government employee contracts up for bid on the open market. It is even feasible to have police and fire contracts going to private sector entities who could specialize in providing the organizational aspect of those departments, while retaining our specialty trained operational personnel. It's time for some "clean sheet of paper" thinking in government.

Comment by Joan C. Hall on September 30, 2010 at 10:42am

It may sound harsh and seem we are not rewarding the Councilmen that voted no but I think we should vote them all out. We also need term limits on how long they can stay. I say a 4year term limit is in order . Of course we vote every year so if they aren't holding up their end of the agreement they are out sooner.

Comment by Robert Hutcherson on September 30, 2010 at 10:32am

I have met many fire and police officers to include Sheriff Rutherford. We had a 15 min. meeting scheduled that lasted almost 2 hours a few weeks ago. There are tremendous opportunities within their departments for operational process improvement opportunities. And I was well received by them to work together to eliminate wasteful spending, by working smarter from a operational prospective. Most in the departments are outstanding citizens, but representation of these great public servants is subpar.

Comment by Glenn Lord Sr. on September 30, 2010 at 10:32am

I must also add that I agree with Valerie. This Mayor and Council wastes money like it is water and refuses to cut any of their ridiclous spending. Instead of just standing firm on paycuts why can't the unions tag city cuts to their pay sacrifices? Instead of fighting us they should be working with us to make cuts everywhere they are needed. Now there is a real solution and I won't hold my breath until the unions agree. The real solution is to remove the council members that voted yes, and especially Warren Jones who headded up the finance committee and refused to give an inch on anything.

Comment by Glenn Lord Sr. on September 30, 2010 at 10:22am

Well said Robert. We all appreciate the job the Police and Firemen do but when the politicaly powerful unions refuse to give any when so many are struggling to stay above water, who and where are the real heroes? I know few people that wouldn't go into a burning building to rescue a child or risk their life to save another with no contract or pay. Speaking of little pay for real heroes our military works for peanuts and often their families live subsistently for them to serve. When our Police and Firemen start acting like heroes in the financialy responsible sense to the community instead of "all for us" union thugs my opinion will change also. It is not a matter of us aginst them it is a matter of we are all in the same sinking boat and it is time the Police and Fire union members acted like it.

Comment by Daniel R. Carr on September 30, 2010 at 10:15am

Be that as it may, a GUARANTEED , no-risk (except city bankruptcy!) 8.4% return on retirement, after already being over-matched by 700% city contribution, qualifies as "spoiled".

Comment by Valerie Sawyer on September 30, 2010 at 10:04am

Mr. Hutcherson, did you hear Randy Wyse's explanation of WHY they turned down the pay cut? They had agreed to it - and then Mayor Peyton went and spent $20 million in two weeks - after the FD was told they needed to take that pay cut because the City was broke. Also keep in mind that our FD is the 15th busiest department in the NATION yet is only 148th in pay. Name for me another City job where a person puts their life on the line when they go to work.........there are no others. Our Fire & Police are our FIRST line of defense. They will be there before the military or anybody else. If non-essential functions were cut from our City budget, the pension wouldn't even be an issue. And I'm sure the policemen & firemen in this town will be glad to hear that you think of them as "spoiled individuals". That's very supportive of you. I guess I can strike you from my list of mayor candidates as well.

Comment by Robert Hutcherson on September 30, 2010 at 9:55am

Public servants in this town need to start acting like public servants and not spoiled individuals. In an economy where people are losing their jobs left and right and living off of their diminished 401ks, anybody would be glad to accept a 3% cut in pay and stay employed. In other cities around the country police and fire are taking 6 to 12% pay cuts to balance budgets, but that’s not the case here in Jacksonville. I have the utmost respect for our police, fire and other public servants, but everybody needs to be reasonable. What if the military, who is our ultimate public servant, refused to serve because of pay? Bottom Line: If you accept the role of a public servant, then work and serve like one. If not, find another means to make a living. No public service position should have better benefits than the veterans who serve our country.

Comment by David M. Yarborough on September 30, 2010 at 9:37am

Each of us are keenly aware of the circumstances in our own little world, but what Billie said about a huge global crisis is now hitting home. The riots in Greece, Spain, Portugal and other European countries is a result of mandatory cuts to public unions. If things do not change dramatically soon, this same scenario will impact each of us in very personal ways. Participation in the tea movement, communication with officials and public awareness are all critical to not only keeping the train on the track, but slowing the speed of this run away locamotive. Out here in the sticks in Baker County we have been battling our local government for two years over fiscal discipline. Just this week they discussed giving to all county employees $1000 bonuses from excess land fill revenues. Austerity is in the dictionary. How do you get them to pick it up and look it up?

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