They can take their pay cuts and jam it. They offered us a 10% cut in pay retroactive to last july. So in effect, I would owe them money to the tune of several grand. WTF

That would take us back to pay levels from the 90's and that doesn't count the steep increases in healthcare we have seen since then plus the cost of living that has skyrocketed. In the 90's the average guy had a $1000 mortgage if he was lucky. Mine is twice that now. If we take a cut, we all lose.

In the end, to take the 10% would be the same amount of pay as you would get while collecting except you still have to work. Why bother? We are better off to just let the bottom guys get laid off and collect instead of the entire department getting lay off pay while still having to come to work.


The politicians made this mess, let them deal with the aftermath once the cities of Fall River and New Bedford turn into war zones and the citizens go ape sh1t come election time.

 

lower state revenues = less local aid = layoffs for municipal workers.

I saw on the news last night that Boston is laying off 900 from the school dept. 450 of which will be teachers.

I also saw Worcester is talking about a college dorm tax of $800 per student per year.

 

Jeff, unemployment is 50% of your gross earnings (and there is a max on it) and unlike comp, it's taxable. How they would factor in detail $ would be a question. Not sure why you think a 10% cut would be equal to what you get on unemployment, plus you have to factor in the health insurance costs.

My biggest concern for anyone who is laid off is that it it not like it was even just a few years ago. The jobs just aren't out there. Knowing that, and knowing that it does not appear to be getting better is, why I personally am willing to accept the reduction in hours/pay. Your opinion may vary.

What am I going to do? Tell my boss to take his job and hour reduction and shove it? It's not like I and many others out there even have a choice.

 

Lainey, most of us don't have a choice. Jeff has a union that gives them a voice in what happens. I don't want to turn this into a political discussion, but most of us have no voice whatsoever.

 

It doesn't take a whole lot of income to max unemployment out.
Unemployment is only covering a small percentage of my prior income.

Economist are now looking at 3-4 years before recovery really takes hold.
And all towns and cities are facing the same financial challenges.

Now remember when I mentioned the 5 bil in cops money which is part of the bill currently in congress?

and why do you think the politicians made this mess?

 

I know that, Ed. Everyone will make their own decisions, if they have a choice. Everyone's situation is different, everyone's financial situation is different too.

 

Because when you are collecting UI you don't have to pay union dues, pension system etc. and you can go on mass health so you don't pay monthly blue cross fees. I am not saying it is an exact even match, but it's close. even the guys who are going to get cut say they wouldn't consider doing the job for 10% less. Remember too, they want a RETROACTIVE pay cut from almost a year ago. Every time our contract comes up, the city drags it out for over a year past the expiration by not negotiating in good faith for months at a time. Even if they offer a raise to us in the end, retro pay is NEVER EVER EVER on the table. I get some evil pleasure seeing them on the other side of the table now.

the fire men could give even less of a crap about getting laid off because most of them already do side work (electrical, carpentry, landscaping etc..) because they only work 2 days a week (24hr shifts). So, they have a trade they can use to make money under the table and still collect UI.

In the end, maybe this will be good. It will be a wake up call for folks to see what life is like when you don't have effective public safety in place.

 

Thats why I am of the opinion that unions are essential to fair treatment of employees. Everyone should be a union shop no matter what your trade is.

 

My city has no more industry since textile moved to china and mexico. No industry means no taxes.

A company wants to build an LNG terminal in the city. It will employ over 100 folks and be the single largest tax payer in the city. They have fought it tooth and nail cosing MILLINS of dollars in legal fees over a couple years. Why? What if they had that cash back... How many jobs would be saved?

Then the new mayor, in the middle of a financial disaster has all new carpeting and bathrooms and lighting installed in his 6th floor office costing an arm and a leg.

He has hired several cronies in extremely well paying jobs he just had to create. and doubled the salaries of his five lawyer legal staff to $85k each. BTW, these lawyers are all PART TIME workers (listed at 22hrs a week) and also recieve full health benefits in addition to their salary and also have private practices...

The list of waste goes on....

But, who takes the hit? The working stiffs in the PD, FD and DPW who can least afford it. And, just as importantly, the citizens who will become the victims of robberies, burglaries and just about any other crime you can imagine at a greater rate due to a basically un-effective police presence.


thats why I say the pols made the mess.

 

Talk to someone after they get laid off and see if it's a comparable to taking a 10% cut. I think you're way off on that calculation. I don't think Mass Health (or assistance paying your health insurance premium) at layoff is automatic. There are income guidelines they use AND they factor in your wages of the last six months too. IF you have a working spouse you can get hung out to dry, or it will be some time before you qualify. Maybe this has changed recently, and I'm just not aware of it.

Unemployment is no walk in the park, but the biggest concern is when will there be jobs out there?

BTW, the firemen who are on layoff won't be on easy street either. I'd bet a lot of their side jobs have died off.....electrical contractors and carpenters aren't exactly all that busy these days. I know a plumber from the Vineyard who lived quite large and very comfortable for a long time, plenty of toys. Now the guy is afraid to spend 1K, since work is just not out there. And in these times, the landscapers will take a hit too. No reason folks who lost their jobs can't mow their own lawn.