2007 Budget
When I ran for council in 2005, I said we needed to create a more open, citizen-friendly budget process. Therefore, I have again created a page on my website dedicated to the budget. I view this as an opportunity for citizens to become more aware and involved in city government, particularly the budget process. Elected officials should actively seek feedback, and this is my way of fulfilling a pledge that I made to the citizens of Oshkosh.
Some highlights of the page include:
-Bryan
Some highlights of the page include:
- a timeline of the upcoming budget workshops and council meetings, including a schedule of the department presentations to the council;
- various links including one to the preliminary budget; and
- an opportunity for citizens to provide feedback and suggestions regarding the budget.
-Bryan
posted by Bryan L. Bain at
11/01/2006 10:55:00 AM
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38 Comments:
Bryan
Thanks for doing this.
Has anyone explained how the city staff was able to come up with a preliminary budget that doesn't include severe cuts or a garbage fee?
Maybe I just missed that.
By
Miles Maguire, at November 01, 2006 5:07 PM
Miles-
You're welcome. Thank you for participating.
According to the City Manager, better than expected revenue projections, coupled with the almost 3% levy limit increase, allowed him to present a budget without a garbage fee and with limited cuts to police and fire. We do, however, have cuts in other departments that will eliminate or drastically reduce services such as in the library, which stands to lose up to four positions and the bookmobile. I believe the workshops tomorrow and Thursday will provide us (the council and citizens of Oshkosh) a better understanding of the preliminary budget.
-Bryan
By
Bryan L. Bain, at November 07, 2006 2:20 PM
Bryan,
These are comments posted on another blog site:
Did anyone see the budget meeting tonight? Esslinger was asking the parks director about his overtime budget I don’t remember how much it was exactly but it was more than $15,000. The parks director said that this is for the union employees who get overtime on the weekend who clean the toilets!
Just when you thought the valve turner position was the stupidest thing you ever heard now we have people making $25-$35 per hour cleaning toilets.
If any council member doesn’t send a message to these union people that this will not be tolerated then he or she needs to go!
Cleaning toilets making overtime, this stuff only gets better with every council meeting.
11/08/2006 8:56 PM
Anonymous said...
Dennis McHugh said at a meeting a few months ago he understood the valve turner position and if the guy from the water department said it was needed then that was good enough for him.
11/08/2006 9:49 PM
Anonymous said...
I think the number was $17,XXX for overtime.
Yes, it is ridiculous.
Now, before anybody starts a cutting and pasting flurry over this, realize what Tom Stephany was saying and the city manager concurred with: We CANNOT change this without a change in the contract. Negotiations are just that: If we want "them" to give up something, we have to give up something else. What has been established is known as "past practice".
Equally ridiculous were the myriad department managers with their entourages in tow, squawking about having to cut a part time position here, some lawn mower parts there, etc. It appears that we need a good thinning of the management herd to restore some of our "services".
11/08/2006 9:57 PM
Anonymous said...
Not with that topic, tho, 9:57. There is no guarantee of overtime in any contract. If the city decides they don't want to pay overtime for that particular issue, they don't have to. The union has no say in that matter.
11/08/2006 11:08 PM
These are MORE examples of run-away labor union wage and benefit issues.
In my opinion, one of your biggest challenges is to address and get a handle on the seemingly out-of-contol union contracts for public sector union employees.
By
Anonymous, at November 09, 2006 6:54 AM
I believe Mr Wollangk indicated that in the past the Saturday/Sunday overtime issued was taken to arbitration and the city LOST??? Not much Mr Esslinger, the council, or city staff can do.
By
Anonymous, at November 09, 2006 11:56 AM
I found it odd that Mark Huddleston commented that bus drivers that earned a high wage was a good think because they in-turn spend that money in the community. (paraphrased)
Anyone else see the folly of that position?
By
Anonymous, at November 13, 2006 12:27 PM
Interesting that Harley Davidson and Miller Brewing Company are in battles with their respective unions over negotiation surrounding healthcare and pension issues.
This again only goes to prove that in the private sector, the dole out has ended for the labor unions in America.
Only the public sector unions, those that represent our city workers and teachers, seem to believe that the cash cow (property tax payers) has an endless source of cash.
It is high time that the entitlement program for public sector unions comes to a halt. The taxpayers that support their jobs, wages and benefits are certainly no better off than Fortune 500 Companies that themselves can no longer offer a wide buffet of benefits to their employees.
Give the taxpayers a break – stop the public sector union gluttony!
By
Anonymous, at November 14, 2006 12:42 PM
We need to gain control over the compensation packages provided to city staff and employees.
If anyone thinks the economy in Oshkosh is great, all you needed to do was observe what occured on the Washburn frontage road south of Prime Outlet Mall today.
Oshkosh Truck had a "Job Fair" at the LaSure Hall. At 7:00 AM, people...I said PEOPLE, not vehicles, were standing in line from the halls front door, back to the frontage road and then South to just about where the Bergstrom Import car dealership is located.
These people were waiting in line for 3-5-8 hours or longer just to fill out an application for fairly entry level jobs. Most starting wages were between $11.00 and $15.00 per hour.
As I spoke to one of the Oshkosh Truck HR reps. he told be that they expected something like 2,000 - 2,500 people total attended hoping to find work.
He also mentioned that the split was about 50-50, those out of work and those looking to move up to better benefits. His final comment was one that struck me the most. He said a very large percentage of those applying were in the middle age bracket...yes, not young people, but people that had been downsized and working in service positions, now applying for a job with benefits.
All this points out that things aren't so great economy wise here in Oshkosh. All you need to do is scratch the surface to see that people are struggling.
If the city wants to truely get the budget under control and help the tax payer here in Oshkosh, we need to get wages and benefits under control with union worker and administrator compensation. The current packages just don't seem to reflect what is happening to other in Oshkosh.
By
Anonymous, at November 16, 2006 6:53 PM
NEW HOLSTEIN — The union representing about 200 workers at a Tecumseh Power Co. plant said today that the facility is closing March 31.
Yet another example of the sad state of affairs with our manufacturing based economy.
These union workers found no job protection, yet public sector union workers continue to be shielded from reality with arbitration and similar laws.
Those who pay public sector union members wages through property taxes suffer with job losses and benefit reductions while those teachers and city works see their wages and benefits continue to increase.
Any reasonable person can see the folly of this trend.
By
Anonymous, at November 17, 2006 12:33 PM
The budget cuts have to start higher than the City workers in Oshkosh.
Send your posts Mr Hintz, to Madison or to Governor Doyle.
You are waiting your time cutting and pasting from blog to blog
By
Anonymous, at November 20, 2006 6:22 AM
To 6:22 AM...
Thanks for your advice, but I have contact both of those gentlemen already.
Specific to your comment about multiple posts…it seems that posting messages such as this seem to get “under the skin” of what appears to be a specific group of people, my guess they are connected to a public sector union.
I guess if I were a public sector union member, I too would be intimidated to have word spreading about how those that are in public sector unions seem to be insulated from what is occurring in the real world, wage and benefit wise.
I will continue my quest in getting word out to property taxpayers that the entitlement program called “public sector union’s” needs drastic change. All civil service positions, union, non-union, administration, management should not be insulated from voters and tax payers direction.
When most private sector companies are calling for more employee contributions to healthcare costs, why should tax payers continue to fund 95-97% of healthcare benefits for those in the public sector unions in Oshkosh?
When the city council and board of education attempt to tighten the budget, but don’t publicly acknowledge the detrimental affect and impact of union wages and benefits, they simply are not addressing the 800 pound gorilla sitting in the room.
By
Anonymous, at November 20, 2006 7:57 AM
Budget Meeting Summary
Spend Spend Spend
Taxpayers PAY PAY PAY
New shelters, New docks, New squads, YIPEE
Taxpayers PAY PAY PAY
By
Anonymous, at November 21, 2006 8:41 AM
About the only thing that didn't get added in was an increase in compensation for the councilors.
Oh wait they still have another meeting. Great meeting summary from previous poster
Spend Spend Spend
Taxpayers PAY PAY PAY
New shelters, New docks, New squads, YIPEE
Taxpayers PAY PAY PAY
By
Anonymous, at November 21, 2006 8:48 AM
Here's another little budget gem.
It was mentioned last night that part time city employees (20 hours a week) are entitled to full benefits and pension.
Yup...if you work for this City 20 hours a week, taxpayers fund 95-97% of your healthcare costs and provide a full slate of benefits including a pension plan...not 401K...a DEFINED PENSION!
The gravey train just doesn't end it seems. The only people making money in this city are the city employees and teachers who are paid by the tax payers.
Time for a revolt folks!
By
Anonymous, at November 21, 2006 11:45 AM
Yes, If I remember correctly those are 2 part-time library positions put "back in'the budget at $70,000. 20 hours per week where do I sign up????
By
Anonymous, at November 21, 2006 2:47 PM
Wrong! They are two full time positions! And to the previous poster, state law requires providing benefits to part time workers and the City is required to follow the law!
By
Anonymous, at November 21, 2006 3:55 PM
Bryan,
Please clarify the confusion about the 2 library positions.
Also, please clarify whether part time city employees (20 hours per week) are entitled to full city benefits such as 95-97% tax payer funded healthcare coverage.
Thank you
By
Anonymous, at November 22, 2006 6:53 AM
Brian, What was the discussion last summer?
DNR approval for floating docks?
Do we know that the DNR will grant permission to the city to build them?
This seems to be a "big ticket"
item and not readily assessible to the majority of Oshkosh PLEASE try to Delete this item from the 2007 budget.
By
Anonymous, at November 22, 2006 11:55 AM
Do we NEED to spend $280k on docks to give the upper class from other communities a place to park and drink without spending any money here?
NO
SOMEONE PLEASE STOP THIS INSANITY
By
Anonymous, at November 22, 2006 11:57 AM
Anonymous @ 6:53 a.m.-
I spoke today with the City Manager. Excluding the library, there are approximately 25 permanent part-time employees working for the city.
Permanent part-time employees must work every week, except when on vacation, and at least 975 hours a year to qualify for the following benefits: single health care coverage, prorated vacations and holidays and, as mandated by state law for all employees who work over 600 hours a year, unemployment, Social Security, FICA and Wisconsin Retirement System.
It was decided about 8-10 years ago to offer the health care coverage and prorated vacations and holidays as a way to keep these positions from becoming part of a union.
As far as the library positions are concerned, they are under a completely different contract than the rest of the city employees. In fact, almost the entire staff at the library is in one union. Many of the positions are not 1.0 FTE; they have several positions that are .75 and .5, almost all of which are covered by their union.
As required by state law, the terms of their contract are negotiated through collective bargaining (and quid pro quo). State law dictates that the library contract is negotiated by the Library Board and the union - the council has no authority over it. The benefits (health care, vacation and holidays), therefore, are negotiated items, however, according to the City Manager, they are similar to the rest of our contracts.
Finally, the two positions added back to the library are two .5 FTE positions.
-Bryan
By
Bryan L. Bain, at November 22, 2006 3:24 PM
Anonymous @ 11:55 a.m.-
Yes, the city did receive approval for the floating docks at Riverside Park. We did not, however, spend our share of the total cost due to the delay in approval - the Waterways Commission was out of grant money by the time the city finally received permission. The city again will apply in 2007 for a matching grant from the Waterways Commission. It is my understanding that the project will not move forward unless we receive the grant.
-Bryan
By
Bryan L. Bain, at November 22, 2006 3:29 PM
Thank you for your investigation Bryan. The answers you've uncovered unfortunately seem to support my notion that our city budget problems are largely due to the extraordinary wage and benefit packages awarded to our staff (union and non-union)
I am increasingly annoyed to hear that we as Oshkosh property tax payers seem to have NO RIGHTS when it comes to our desires to keep wages and benefits in-check.
I am convinced that the total package awarded to our union employees is far better than that of most Oshkosh property tax payers.
As you certainly understand, your first obligation is to the tax payers of Oshkosh. I encourge you to do all that you can to lessen the impact of the current compensation on Oshkosh property tax payers.
It appears that our Union employees have too much control. That needs to change!!
By
Anonymous, at November 22, 2006 7:41 PM
Let's see, Crown Vics average around 23mpg in the city. Impalas are at 28mpg. Over a year that equates to around 310 gallons saved PER SQUAD. if there are 10 that get 40k miles on them in a year, that means a savings of 3100 gallons of gasoline. That is approximately $7000 in fuel savings alone. What is the issue? Are we going to get them Cadillacs if they want them because they are more comfy than the Crown Vic's? Get a life.
Oshkosh needs to watch money. One on One is not economical. It needs to go. As the current cars age, we should look to more economical cars. Stop the bleeding. Hasn't Monte said it before, "just because thats how its always been done" doesn't mean to keep doing it.
By
Anonymous, at November 23, 2006 9:22 AM
Bryan,
It was written on another blog County employees are paying 10%-15% of health premiums verses the 4%-6% that city employees pay.
When doing "comparibles" investigation, is that difference ratio correct? If so, why the big difference?
The County contribution of 10-15% seem a little more in-line with the private sector.
Bemis/Curwood employees (One of the largest employers in Oshkosh) just had their healthcare contribution percentages changed so the employees pay a greater share. Now the ratio at Bemis is 80% - 20%. Bemis pays 80, employees pay 20. Still have minimum and co-pays and such, but the ration changed.
I still think the healthcare package we offer the city employees to far too excessive. 95-97% paid by the property tax payer is a huge burden.
By
Anonymous, at November 27, 2006 10:27 AM
There were between 2,000 and 2,500 people who applied for jobs at the recient Oshkosh Truck job fair held at LaSures Hall. These positions had starting wages of $11.00 - $15.00 per hour as reported by an Oshkosh Truck HR Rep.
As I chatted with people standing in line, each and everyone commented that the primary reason they were applying is to hope to obtain good healthcare benefits.
Oshkosh Truck does not have a plan, nearly as good as the 95-97% taxpayer paid plan the city has.
It is quite clear that if the city union workers were not shielded by a flawed law, TONS of people would be lined up to do the work many of them do for far less wage, just to get the benefits.
You don't need a post HS degree to work in Parks, Sanitation, Transit, Public Works etc. Many of the same people looking for work at Oshkosh Truck willing to work for $11.00 would perform fine in those general labor roles. They would just want the job for the healthcare benefit alone.
City Union workers just don't seem to have a clue how good they have it, and what a drain they are on the property tax payer.
87% of all property taxes collected in Oshkosh go to pay wages and benefits of city workers.
Our annual city budget is about $60,000,000. 10% ($6,000,000) goes to pay JUST THE HEALTHCARE BENEFIT! 10% of the entire yearly budget!
The entire wage and benefit drain is holding our city back.
Several of the council members are acknowledging this fact. I think we are making headway. Bryan Bain specifically mentioned the biggest complaint he receives about union employees is related to healthcare. The word is out there people. Keep up the pressure!
By
Anonymous, at November 28, 2006 9:01 PM
I think the position Dennis McHugh and Paul Esslinger took at the Council meeting last night was especially heroic. Dennis and to a greater degree Paul stood up and finally challenged the first union contract that came before them during this re-negotiation period.
As everyone knows, many public meetings are held to discuss the City Operating Budget. Line items are reviewed. Department Managers are asked to make justifications and a great detail of emphasis is placed on trying to insure each dollar is spent wisely…but we rarely ever hear about the BIGGEST expense the city has.
Most city employees are represented by one of many unions. Negotiations with these unions occur only every 2-3 years on a cycle. Most of the negotiations are held in executive session and none are broadcast so we the taxpayers can see what takes place.
Our city budget for the 2007 calendar year is about $60,000,000.00. Of that sum, we see the city administration justify about 13% of it during the work shop sessions. That 13% equates to about $7,800,000.00. That $7,800,000.00 covers EVERYTHING other than labor costs, to run our entire city for an entire year!
So you might ask, what happens to the rest???
Well the rest is the wages and benefits we pay to all those employees…union and non-union city workers. Yes, 87% of the entire budget covers wages and benefits. That 87% equates to about $52,000,000.00!!...and we hardly EVER talk about that in public!
Paul and Dennis had the guts to bring this up at a public meeting. Now both of those council members will have targets painted on their backs because each and every city employee and union member will likely not support them in upcoming elections because they had the guts to take a stand and say that labor costs paid by the taxpayers is totally out of control!
I hear constantly how the City Manager complains that the State mandated levy freeze hurts our city. But I have yet to hear him mention that the State mandated labor arbitration laws and quid pro quo laws also hurt our city, and every other city in the state. These laws stop us from truly negotiating with the unions, the laws are slanted to favor unions and punish municipalities.
Oshkosh tax payers need to be more informed of the costs associated with the labor used in this city. I want to understand more about the details surrounding the wage and benefit packages provided to union and non-union employees.
All the labor contracts become public record. I will make it a point to study them, but that’s after-the-fact. What I’m asking for is more transparency during the contract period, and at the very least, acknowledgement by our elected and administrative staff to the significance of labor costs to the taxpayers of Oshkosh.
Looking at just the healthcare benefit, the tax payers pay about 95-97% of costs associated with providing healthcare coverage to our city employees and their families. The employee only is required to pay the remaining 3-5%. The taxpayer’s portion (95-97%) equates to 10% of the total city budget. We pay about $6,000,000.00 in taxes just to cover city workers healthcare!
I plan to continue support both Dennis and Paul in upcoming elections. I will also support Bryan, as I believe he too understands that the average tax payer is unhappy about the costs associated with paying 95-97% for healthcare of our city employees.
With two seats becoming vacant, I will also hope that the Oshkosh taxpayers and voters will support candidates that have the best interest of the tax payer as their top priority. Candidates that are focused on controlling run-away labor costs and spending far more time, intensity and effort on where 87% of our taxes go…wages and benefits!
By
Anonymous, at November 29, 2006 11:42 AM
In order to require that the union employees contribute more towards their health insurance, you have to give them something in return. Quid pro quo. That something is not part of a 3% wage increase. So, what do you want to give them? More vacation, higher sick leave payout, higher longevity payouts, dental insurancce, What? Don't ramble on that it is unfair or that the private sector doesn't get this or that the taxpayers are tired of being soaked or that upper mgmt is at fault, etc, etc.
It boils down to the binding arbitration laws in the state. They must be changed.
By
Anonymous, at November 29, 2006 3:03 PM
The problem is the State law.
Public sector unions only succeed because of the arbitration and quid pro quo laws.
Unions take advantage of these laws. When the make comparables, they all increase each other by comparison. Each time they enact an across the board PERCENTAGE pay increase, it has a compounding effect on their future wages, and is used as the benchmark for other cities comparables.
For the taxpayer, this is a lose lose situation.
The laws need changing. Or, in lew of that, the unions need to lower their demands, or in lew of that, cities just need to drop services and union staff until the message is clear that taxpayers matter.
No matter which city you choose to compare to...ANY city that requires taxpayers to fund 97% of city labor healthcare costs are simply WRONG!
By
Anonymous, at November 29, 2006 5:20 PM
The topic we've discussed most lately is related to healthcare. Truth is; healthcare has changed dramatically in the past few years.
Not too long ago, it was common for just about every full time worker to have a very extensive, comprehensive healthcare package included as a standard component of full time employment. And even more importantly, the cost of that coverage was affordable enough that most all of the costs associated with the coverage were paid by the employer as a part of the entire compensation package.
Then things changed…Healthcare costs began to rise rapidly. Costs for comprehensive coverage began to spiral out-of-control. As employers began to be faced with these run-away healthcare costs, they needed to look at how those costs were affecting their bottom line. The result was that the employer began to do something that was unheard of up to that point. They began “Cost Sharing”.
Cost sharing is just passing some of those rapidly rising healthcare costs back to the employees who where using them. Enter PPO’s, HMO’s, Co-pays, etc etc.
This was the method employers used to distribute the costs of healthcare coverage to those they employed.
Turn the page and let’s look at today.
Most non-union corporations have a buffet of benefit options. Healthcare is one of those. Major corporations adjust employer/employee contribution rations quite frequently. The “standard” for most large corporations tends to be in the 80/20 range. The Corporation pays 80%, the employee pays 20%. Some mega corporations have better plans, and some smaller corporations and mom and pop companies have poorer plans or even no plans at all.
Do you recognize that there are 46 million Americans who don’t have health insurance, and there are another 50 million Americans who are under-insured? The cost of healthcare has gone out of the reach of a large number of Americans…even those that work full time.
As healthcare costs continue to rise, and the economy remains somewhat stagnant, many workers have experienced wage freezes along with increasing employee based contributions to healthcare coverage. This results in a net LOSS in total gross compensation.
In the non-represented sector, employees have no recourse but to accept this situation or look for alternate employment.
In the private represented sector (unions) concessions were made by the employees rather than facing plant closings.
In the public represented sector, protected by arbitration and quid pro quo laws, the union members thumb their noses at these rising costs and expect the taxpayers who pay their wages and benefits to accept additional property tax increases to fund the ever rising healthcare costs.
This is reality. And the crux of the problem is the State law.
Public sector unions only succeed because of the arbitration and quid pro quo laws. Unions take advantage of these laws.
Everyone hides under the blanket of “comparables”.
The problem with comparables is they are like the Fox guarding the Chicken Coop!
Unions say that their wage should be similar to union employees working at similar cities in the area. Each one of the unions in these cities check the others, get similar increases, and the cycle continues. The result is the union employees employed by all similar municipalities benefit as they all increase each other by comparison!
Each time they enact an across the board percentage pay increase, it has a compounding effect on their future wages, and then becomes the benchmark for other cities comparables.
For the taxpayer, this is a lose-lose situation!
The laws need changing…
Or, in lieu of that, the unions need to drastically lower their demands on taxpayers…
Or in lieu of that, cities just need to drop services and the associated union staff until the message is clear that taxpayers matter!
There simply is no denying that the Oshkosh city employee union’s expectations of tax payers to fund 97% of their healthcare costs are nothing less than obscene!
By
Anonymous, at November 30, 2006 1:38 PM
Bryan,
Can you check this out next time you talk with Mr. Wollangk.
I just got done watching channel 10 “Your City At Work”. They were discussing the budget and again Dick Wollangk was whining about the “State imposed levy limit”. He was crying about how this makes it so tough to get the budget together with all the things that go up. He said fuel and wages and benefits are all going up.
The thing that ticks me off is that he always talks about the State Levy Limit, but he NEVER says a word about the State Mandated Arbitration Laws! These laws tie the cities hands with labor negotiations with the unions.
Those arbitration laws were put in place because nobody would want the fire and police departments to go out on strike. So because they can’t strike, they were given these laws.
I understand. I wouldn’t want the police or fire to be out on strike either!
The problem is just about NOBODY would ever care if the whole darn Parks Department would go out on strike…or the Sign Shop or the Forestry Dept or even the Engineering Dept. I could go on-and-on. You don’t want your public safety people to strike, but just about every other department is NOT CRITICAL to stay running. Fact is, if the bus drivers would strike, people would be standing in line at City Hall to take those jobs.
Sure it might be a little inconvenience, but that is what a strike is supposed to do. So why do all these other departments get to hide behind those arbitration laws too?
So like I said the City Manager NEVER complains about the Arbitration Laws. He only complains about the Levy Limits, and yet they both have a similar effect on the budget.
I wonder why????
By
Anonymous, at November 30, 2006 5:55 PM
Anonymous @ 5:55 p.m.-
I am not sure why you have not heard City Manager Wollangk talk about binding arbitration before, however, he has mentioned it in various meetings I've attended. It definitely plays a role in our negotiations with employees.
-Bryan
By
Bryan L. Bain, at December 01, 2006 8:29 AM
“When the whine-mongers have finally destroyed the last bastion between robber barons and sweat shops we can all line up at Wal-Mart, battling one another for their slave wages.
Now, it is the working class person who looks upon others who work for a living as the enemy. "Joe Blow gets healthcare. I don't have any healthcare. What do I do? Destroy Joe's, of course!"
This concept is truly central to understanding my position, and even more remarkably, it was written by those that appose my position!
“Robber Barons and Sweat Shops”…This is the foundation of labor unions in America. Labor unions were formed, so those that provided the labor could share in the vast wealth heaped upon those ancient Robber Barons.
Unions built the middleclass as we know it today. Thanks to labor unions, middleclass America fought back against “Robber Barons”…Greedy Corporations only looking to maximize profitability at the expense of those “on the line” doing the hard work. Unions fought back and were successful in obtaining their piece of the corporate profit pie, life was good, middleclass prospered and all was well in America.
Turn the page to the new millennium, the digital age, an internet connection in every home and business, ebay, cell phones everywhere, internet commerce. Everything is about to change again.
Now the uneasy truce between labor and management faces it’s most fierce challenge, “Global Competition”!
You see now the digital connections allow business to be conducted just as easy around the world as around the block; and around the world on the other side of our planet there are millions of laborers in China that will do the work for pennies on the dollar…the dollars which were spent to purchase the labor of Americas Union workers.
It doesn’t take long for those gurus in corporate America to see this and salivate at the potential skyrocketing profits that await them. Plants close, entire towns are shuttered, American workers and their families who had for generations worked hard and believed in the American dream are now out-of-work.
This story is the plight of many in the private sector, union and non-union workers alike. Unions were at there best when they fought for workers rights against greedy, bloated, corporations. Labor Unions however are at their worst when they fight against their own kind, middleclass America!
Private sector unions are now only a shadow of their former selves. Corporations threaten to move jobs and plants “off shore” if unions don’t lower their compensation demands. Some of this is good, as Labor too has gotten a bit greedy. The compensation packages awarded to Auto Workers placed many common laborers in the financial class of executives. Pension plans had truly gotten a bit gold plated through the years and the pendulum was bound to swing back in the direction again union labor.
The end result for private sector labor unions…life goes on, but is far more complex. Now instead of just fighting those “Robber Barons” as they have for years, they are also required to do battle against swarms of foreign labor.
The other arm of labor unions in America are those connected with the public sector. These labor unions are typically federal workers, municipal (City, County) workers and teachers. This labor movement is very different compared to the private sector union workers.
As was mentioned…Unions were at there best when they fought for workers rights against greedy, bloated, corporations. Labor Unions however are at their worst when they fight against their own kind, middleclass America.
Public sector union workers obtain their wage and benefit package through taxes. Taxes placed upon all levels of society; Poor, Middleclass and even that upscale “Robber Baron” class.
Public sector union workers have not felt the pressures placed upon their brothers and sisters in the private sector unions. Government and school systems can’t ship their product off shore for production; they are firmly planted here in America, relying on the taxes obtained from the American people to fund their service.
As the public sector unions have not felt the competitive pressures borne upon the private sector unions, they have maintained an unhealthy appetite for more and more. Rising wages, increasing benefits, lavish pensions etc, etc. This golden buffet of compensation requires taxpayers to keep the serving dishes full. Private sector unions come to the table and feast.
The sad reality is many of those that had excellent private sector union jobs in manufacturing plants are now working at “Wal-Mart” like jobs. Private sector middleclass jobs have faced stagnant wage increases…and to make matters worse, these same people who are not getting raises are forced to pay more and more out-of-pocket to fund their healthcare plans. These are the people who support and pay for the services of those in the public sector unions…city workers and school teachers.
Sadly the demands of those in public sector unions are placing a huge financial (tax) burden upon many, many of their family, friends and neighbors. Remember, it wasn’t supposed to be that way, Unions were best when they fought those “Robber Barons”…now they fight with their own kind…the average middleclass taxpayer…Middleclass taxpayers who are working for less money and paying more for healthcare. Fighting to keep their homes financially stable but facing among other financial pressures, those pressures borne upon them by increased compensation demands from those in public sector labor unions.
Oshkosh taxpayers fund 97% of the healthcare costs for Oshkosh city employees.
Now, it is the working class public sector union person who looks upon other middleclass taxpayers…those who work for a living…as their source of ever increasing compensation.
By
Anonymous, at December 01, 2006 8:58 AM
5:55 asks
why do all these other departments get to hide behind those arbitration laws too?
SIMPLY PUT SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND 5:55
They are ALL public employees
They All serve the public.
By
Anonymous, at December 01, 2006 9:06 AM
Alternative Suggestion:
Move to Sheboygan and pay 100%.
By
Anonymous, at December 01, 2006 9:13 AM
9:13 WELL PUT! AMEN
By
Anonymous, at December 01, 2006 9:15 AM
Blah blah blah.8:58
The Oshkosh Area Workforce Development Center [Phone (920) 232-6200] at 315 Algoma Blvd. may be of assistance to you in seeking employment. Some productive work will help take your mind off your troubles. Ask the many people working in Oshkosh. When I get my check today I will look at the pay stub and estimate how much I am paying for your benefits through BadgerCare and Food Stamps. Please cancel your internet service and sell your computer so you can wean yourself from your addiction and get a job (with those benefits you whine about). Good luck with your employment search.
By
Anonymous, at December 01, 2006 9:20 AM
Check out page C4 of the Friday Northwestern.
Headline – Village of Deerfield cuts police department.
Faced with state imposed tax limits, the village of Deerfield has found another way to protect residents and will disband its police department.
The Village Board vote to get rid of its police force and contract with the Dane County Sheriff’s Department for services.
The vote means the Police Chief and 2 officers will be looking for other work.
This is a harsh way to tackle the problem, but a lesson for all…this action can be avoided if other employees would accept the fact that tax payers are tired of increases in property taxes to pay for escalating wages and benefits to municipal employees.
By
Anonymous, at December 01, 2006 12:44 PM
tax payers are tired of increases in property taxes to pay for escalating wages and benefits to municipal employees. NOT TRUE
If you look at the % of increase on your tax bill you will find the SCHOOL taxes & COUNTY tax % are increased far MORE than the city%.
Citizens should be proud of the staff and council that work for the Oshkosh community!
By
Anonymous, at December 10, 2006 9:50 AM
Oshkosh taxpayers and voters will support candidates that have the best interest of the taxpayer as their top priority.
We want Council members that are focused as much on controlling run-away labor costs as they are focused on downtown or river front issues; or economic development and business recruitment.
By
Anonymous, at December 10, 2006 10:14 AM
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