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On August 13th the city of Hutchinson began public hearing on the 2003 budget.
This is critically important to Hutchinson city workers including those SEIU 513 members that work to haul trash, water maintenance,
equipment operators, record clerks, Firefighters and Police are all up for contract negotiations.
It appears the city is in a “cut to the bone”mode and City manager Joe Palacioz has already said he will identify jobs that could be
axed. Employees who don’t have diversified experience will go first, like clerical staff according to Palacioz. Cuts, are said to be necessary because of increased health insurance costs to the city.
City Councilman Clay Bontrager stated at a city council meeting he would have “kind of a sour taste” if unions receive more benefits
at the expense of non-union staff. He went on to state, “I don’t ever want to reward the unions.”
After reading the statement that Mr. Bontrager made at the city council meeting Tuesday , July 30, 2002 it prompted me to respond.
I’m not sure Mr. Bontrager realizes that all city workers under the bargaining unit receive the same benefits whether they are
union members or not. It appears he thinks we go through a pick and choose process and only “Union members” receive benefits. I do know that like corporate CEO’s, city management has different
benefits. Many times these benefits are better than those of the city workers in the bargaining units.
I’m not sure when doing something right for people became controversial and wrong.
City workers like police, firemen, record clerks and maintenance workers are only trying to make a decent living for themselves and their families. Why is it wrong to treat workers with dignity and respect by paying them a living wage and reasonable benefits? Maybe Mr. Bontrager can answer that question for the workers, or perhaps they will send him their message when he’s up for re-election.
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