Originally Posted by
newKnow
You are correct that you did not say that teachers were overpaid. But, someone did and set Ferd off like a rocket. (I mean he was on fire.
) That's all I was saying.
Everyone agrees that the current way of doing business can't continue. everyone knows the deficit is unsustainable and everyone has to tighten their belts. (The Wisconsin workers have agreed to the governors financial demands.) But, the question is, can it continue with public sector workers having union representation?
I think the mods have let this discussion go on because it is an important question for us as members of a private sector union.
Personally, I think the country and states can function with having to deal with and negotiate with public sector unions. They have been doing it for a very long time. To me, to suggest that states having to negotiate with public sector unions is the source of our problems, is a complete cop out. Typical, of so many politicians nowadays, they want to blame everyone but themselves. They spent the money over they years and paying a teacher $70,000 after 40 years did not break their budget.
It's much the same way that we argue that it isn't pilots salaries that break the airlines budget, isn't it?
Public sector unions and their collective bargaining rights should not be targeted as the source of the problem because you as a tax payer pay the state taxes and want lower taxes, just as our union and collective bargaining rights should not be targeted when we negotiate with the company because customers pay the airline and they want cheaper tickets.
Until someone can explain to me in a meaningful way how (outside provisions of the U.S. Constitution) states have to treat public employees any differently than corporations have to treat employees when negotiating and bargaining pay and benefits, that is what I believe.
New K
I know I have.
It is important for this country and for this profession to understand all sides of the current debate happening in WI. I am from there and people are divided. I do agree that all agree the current way is unsustainable, and that change needs to happen. It is more fear of undoing something that has far reaching effects than anything else.
The reality is that companies, as well as local, state, and federal governing bodies are all debt owned. When that happens, the ability to continue the way we always have becomes unsustaiable. The reality hit the airline industry about five years ago, and continues across other industries. Shipping production off-shore was a short term fix. Now, the government at all levels has finally reached a point where it really cannot tax any more, cannot pay any more, and really should not borrow any more. A new reality will result from this. What it will be depends on many things, of which number one is, realizing that our debt burden has taken many options off the table. That 800lb gorilla needs to be dealt with and quick. Get the debts and deficits under control and more money becomes available to pay workers, and invest in capital improvements.
I am sure that Scott Walker would love to give every public worker what they want, I know I would, but the realities of the day are just plain ugly and severely limit the options. By-partisan work is a must for this to actually deal with the root issues. No matter what happens people will feel financial pain, and we as airline pilots should sympathize with it, even if we agree with it.