It’s refreshing to see four city unions forgo a cost of living
increase for 2004 – 2005.
Dear Editor:
It’s refreshing to see four city unions forgo a cost of living increase for 2004 – 2005.
Any time you have tough economic times, the organization always looks to what’s wrong with Hollister’s top brass? Why aren’t the interim city manger, police chief, fire chief, director of management services and others giving concessions or making sacrifices? Why is it in Hollister it’s always the tail wagging the dog?
Firefighters and police officers in Santa Cruz have agreed to give up some guaranteed pay raises in their contracts – a move that will save $300,000 per year for the next three years.
Santa Clara County SEIU 715 has relinquished a cost of living pay raise this year that would save Santa Clara County about $4 million this year.
SEIU members in San Francisco have said they don’t care about a salary increase. In fact, when Mayor Newsom was the first to take a 15 percent salary decrease, he set the tone for all top brass to follow his lead. Then the employees followed suit. This is just a smattering of what’s going on around us.
The only raises public employees should be entitled to is the same COLA increases issue to Social Security Retirement people, which amounts to no more than 2.5 percent per year. Then your Medicare premium is increased enough to take away your raise leaving you with zippo.
Public employees need to leave fantasy land. It’s time to quit asking for raises and retirement sweeteners, already keeping taxpayers broke.
As taxpayers, paying your inflated salaries, it’s time we seal the bottom of the public trough.
I’m a proponent of, and make a motion that, all city, county, and schools, salaries and benefits be voted on by the electorate. Do I have a second?
Noreen Martin,
Hollister
