Vallejo Unions Cry For More Money

1/5/09

By Marc Garman

In today's Times Herald article ”City unions win support in opposing bankruptcy” (Actually the TH spelled it “backruptcy”, but I took the liberty of correcting it here.) the union contracts are touted as hard won, and the target of a malicious city leadership intent on punishing the unions for bad decisions made by the city.

What we are seeing is merely the beginning of the expected “throw the baby out with the bath water” campaign the unions will wage—especially as the election gets closer. In a recent letter to American Police Beat, VPOA (Vallejo Police Officers' Asociation) president Matt Mustard demands that the judge punish Vallejo for bad decisions by previous city councils. Bad decisions that have pumped up his own wonderful salary and benefits. He also fails to mention the instrumental role union money has played in backing candidates and pushing agendas in city hall. Talk about passing the buck.

Now, the Vallejo unions want the citizens of Vallejo to be punished for the greatest mistake made by previous Mayors and Councilmembers: Agreeing to union contracts that are completely unaffordable. The agenda that Vallejo's unions have pushed for is the centerpiece of mismanagement. They are merely blaming the city for accepting their proposals.

And now the unions want to see our taxes increased so their membership can continue in the lifestyle to which they have grown accustomed. This in the middle of a global economic meltdown.

It is amusing that the title of the TH article indicates that the unions have somehow garnered support for their claim that Vallejo is not bankrupt. As the editor of this humble website I have had broad contact with many people on both sides of the Vallejo bankruptcy issue in many parts of the country. By and large the sentiment is that the situation in Vallejo should not have happened, and that the cause largely rests with the union leadership here...specifically IAFF 1186 president Kurt Henke. Rather than poor suffering workers, Vallejo public safety and those who join them are being viewed as national pariahs.

If you told me I would be a critic of union misbehavior a few years ago I would not have believed you. I am a socially liberal, but fiscally conservative left leaning Democrat. I have always considered unions to be critical and necessary to protect workers from exploitation. I still believe that to some degree, but the level of abuse in Vallejo is beyond anything I could have imagined. The unions have become the exploiters.

I can also say with all honestly that I have been lied to directly by people who wear uniforms in the city of Vallejo on more than one occasion. At first it was a shock, but now I accept that in Vallejo GREED is clothed in a uniform, wrapped in hero worship, dipped in a lie and used as the key to unlock the piggy bank. Unfortunately, the piggy bank is empty.