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What is this?
City oblivious to economy
Published Friday, June 12, 2009
Once again the chasm between private sector and the public sector employers — the government — continues to grow, with a clear disconnect between the two.
Across the nation hundreds of thousands of private sector jobs are being cut. The struggling economy is forcing countless businesses to close their doors for good. Millions of Americans continue to go to work each day with no assurances of the future and virtual freezes on pay increases, along with increased medical co-payments and diminishing 401k matches.
But in the golden halls that is government employment it is business as usual with bloated benefit packages, guaranteed salary hikes and other perks that seem proof that some elected officials won't stand up to the unions and change the status quo.
That seems to be the case in the City of Ironton after its council unanimously agreed to give its firefighters and police officers significant raises and a variety of incentives that basically amount to bonuses just for doing their jobs.
Let’s be very clear. These men and women are underpaid to perform difficult jobs. Each and every one has made sacrifices and deserve pay raises.
But now is not the time.
This move sends the absolute wrong message to many Ironton residents who are struggling to make ends meet, in part because of a litany of fees and back-door taxes the city has implemented.
While the city has budgeted and says they can afford these raises and bonuses in 2009, who knows what the future holds for 2010 and beyond. Now is the time for the city to squeeze each dollar to its maximum potential use while keeping an eye on the short and long-term economic climate. Giving it away as bonuses for firefighters who stay in shape and police who know how to operate a gun is foolish and irresponsible.
We hope all sides reconsider these increases and find a way to halt these changes.
Americans — and Irontonians — need to feel like they are facing the challenges together and that goes for those working on both sides of the government fence.
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Comments
Posted by billco (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i think on any job pay increases from time to time is in order, these people earn them. a bonus for staying fit as a fireman or for being able to shoot a gun as a police officer is out of line with the jobs. this is something that goes with the jobs. you can't justify a reward for something that should be and is required of the employee to do the job.
Posted by phantomclown (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FIrst the EMS, now the Fire Department and the police! Give credit where credit is due! How many fires has the Ironton Fire Department had just in the last year? They have to stay fit in order to be able to wear heavy turnout gear(which is hot enough without a fire) and hoses and equipment!!!! Why don't you try it on and fight a fire! See what those boys go through! Then, after you are dog tired from fighting the fire, go back to the station and clean the trucks and equipment, and all of the gear!It would change your mind!!!!!
As for the police, carrying and shooting a gun is not the only skill required to be a cop. Get off the couch, and go run after a few perps, catch some hard criminals, and stop some drug deals. Maybe get shot at, or run over by a car courtesy of a driver under the influence of alcohol or pills! Yes, it recently happened!
Before writing an opinion about something, why don't you go try out the jobs for 24 hours like the EMS and Fire does, or 8 to 16 hour shifts like the police do. You would change your mind after working hard to have the valuable skills all of these agencies possess.
Why don't you write about people who live off welfare and don't have jobs, who steal and deal drugs to children, and who start fires because they have nothing better to do!
Posted by Vil (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 6:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
But why should firefighters get a bonus for being fit and a police officer get a bonus for being able to prove they can shoot a gun every year? Those are things that go with the job.
That's the same idiocy as giving a librarian a bonus every year if she can prove she can read. Just stupid and a waste of money.
I respect the jobs our firefighters and police officers do every day for our town and county, but the unions that represent them stink.
Posted by Noesis (anonymous) on June 13, 2009 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There are plenty of other examples of people doing their jobs under stress... Pilots flying airplanes during storms, Doctors (and Nurses) in the Emergency Room... and lets not forget our soldiers.
Posted by hustlinhillbilly (anonymous) on June 13, 2009 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nothing like an armchair quarterback that has no clue about the job he feels the need to take to task. I agree with Phantomclown, try doing their job for a few days and see what it's like. Not just for a shift, but for a week. You wouldn't last through one live fire training exercise, and would run screaming for Mommy when it came time to break up a bar fight.
Posted by MasterChef (anonymous) on June 13, 2009 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The city and county are really strapped for cash this year. But you watch - very soon Mayor-richer-than-I will increase one or more of the city fees.
Teachers know before they enter college they'll be expected to complete "X" hours of continuing education to maintain their license. Nurse and doctors the same.
Yet cops are supposed to be paid to know how to shoot a gun???? Geez, take a handful of quarters and go to Camden Park!
The raises at this time are totally out of line, the "bonuses" just plain stupid.
I suppose next the city utility workers will be required to pass a certain amount of gas :D
Posted by Noesis (anonymous) on June 14, 2009 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Watch it MasterChef, you're starting to sound like a republican.
Posted by 4victims (anonymous) on June 24, 2009 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe that got raises for keeping their mouths shut!
Something to think about hmmmm?
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