Despite being a supporter of labor, President FDR prevented labor unions from working in any government positions. He was aware that both appointed and elected officials would bargain with unions using taxpayer funds. There are a lot of ballots cast by government employees and their numerous supporters. That has an impact on elections. He was aware that elected officials would eventually give in and accept the union’s outrageous demands for compensation and benefits.

Another union issue that’s almost never discussed is the almost universal feeling among the public (that isn’t a union member or have one in their family): labor unions should not be allowed to represent government employees.

Like his predecessors, President FDR kept labor unions out of all federal jobs even though he was pro-labor. He knew both electeds and appointees would negotiate with unions using taxpayers money. Government workers, and their numerous supporters add up to a lot of votes. That matters in elections. He knew that eventually, electeds would cave in and agree to the union’s exorbitant pay and benefit demands.

He was right, as his successor JFK proved when he agreed to allow labor unions to organize federal bureaucrats, and many states followed JFK’s lead. Now the cat is out of the bag. Getting it back in will be difficult, but it is the right thing to do.

The public has to pay when the electeds or their hand-picked negotiators aagree to a contract that’s very bemneficial to the union members, but very costly to the taxpaying public.

A contract is typically signed after the usual Kabuki play — with a wink and a nod. The union always gets more pay, and better benefits. The unspoken quid pro quo is union votes, and even better: the union tacitly agrees to not attack the incumbent.

That isn’t representing the public; it’s corruption, and it happens all the time.

But how could it be any other way, when unions are involved and the public has no say? That’s a lot of votes, and electeds are only almost human. But anyone reviewing their city’s pay scale for police officers, from the Chief and his several Deputy Chiefs, down to a rookie patrolman would have to say that thishas gotten out of hand, when even a Police Chief’s deputies in this Countyare paid close to a half million dollars every year in pay and benefits.

It’s no wonder that just about every local city operates in the red. Their union scale employees is a city’s #1 budget line item; far more than any other expense. Over the past couple decades the “peer group” pay argument has held sway in negotiations since every city opens contract negotiations at different times.

Each union in turn argues that the pay for (whichever bureaucrat group is being discussed in negotiations) lags the other cities — their “peer group.” And it’s true. That’s because every contract gives the current group a pay raise that’s as high as the highest “peer,” and often it’s more. That raises the bar, which the next city’s negotiators either match or exceed.

This merry-go-round has been going on for a long time now. Even the local Chiefs have caught on. They aren’t in the union, being administrators — but their argument is hard to resist: “I can’t be paid less than the people I supervise!”

As a result, taxpayers are paying their police chiefs a half million to nearly a million dollars every year (typically including a 3% per year of service pension benefit; after the usual 35 – 40 years on the job, a police chief’s retirement pay is significantly higher than his current salary. It also includes lifetime medical insurance and other expensive benefits).

Each side scratches the other’s back. Chiefs use statistics to argue that “Crime is down under my watch!” And the patrolmen and women argue that “We risk our lives!” Which is true. But no one forced them into their occupation. That being the case, it was something they wanted to do — and they would do it regardless of their pay. There are other perqs to the job, and the dangerous part is pretty much over once they’re past foot patrolling, responding to domestic abuse calls, liquor store holdups, and similar crimes.

Electeds negotiating the city’s side of a contract should be acting in the city’s best interest. But are they? They typically roll over when a union demands higher pay and greater benefits than comparable private sector jobs. How is that representing their city’s residents?

Take a look at your local streets some time, then ask yourself if your taxes should be raised so the city’s bureaucrats get the pay raises they demand, or should more be spent on local street maintenance?

That’s just one example out of many. There are other benefits that would come with a non-union city workers as well. Without a union running interference, the Mayor would be their exclusive administrator.

In the event of a school shooting, for example, without a union to contend with the Mayor, s/he would have a free hand to fire any police officers or security personnel employed by the city, if s/he decided it’s in their own best interest to huddle for an hour discussing what to do about all the gunfire, instead of doing what’s in the kids’ best interest by promptly eliminating the threat.

After all is said and done, the children’s safety is their job, is it not?

But when a union is involved it’s the usual story: any discipline is extremely moderate, to non-existent. Most of the time there’s not even mild scolding. Then everyone goes back to their job, waiting for the dust to settle and closer to collecting a fat pension.

When a union is involved in government employment, the workers serve two masters: the administration and the union. But that never works.

No worker can serve two masters in a fair and equitable manner. Which one will they cling to whenever they feel threatened? They prefer the master that protects their job, not the one that might be a threat to their job.

But what about the overtaxed public? Who represents them? Anyone? (and please don’t say ‘their representatives’. The electeds might represent us in most things, but when it comes to votes the electeds always look out for #1).

And what about the distraught, grief stricken parents in the next school shooting? Who represents them? They’re only a handful of votes, compared to thousands of votes that might go against the electeds, if they try to keep their city’s budget in the black.

If the officers who preferred to sit out the action had been summarily fired for failing to protect the kids, cowardice like that would be far less likely the next time gunshots were heard in or around a school.

But the way it is now, their cowardice was rewarded. It convinced other officers that there’s no downside to belly-crawling except for some temporary media shaming, which will quickly be forgotten by everyone except a few parents. That’s a small price to pay to assure the officers own safety, isn’t it?

Also, this is not intended to be an anti-union rant. I support the right of all private sector employees to join a labor union. But when a negotiator has someone else’s money at stake, the final outcome always ends up with profligate pay for the work performed. And there’s always the unspoken… ‘You won’t mobilize your XX thousand union members to campaign against me next election? So, how much do you want…?’

That’s unfair to those paying the freight, no?

Yes, it is. And it’s got to change.

Respectfully, does the City of San Jose
Manager’s approach violate “guilty
until proven innocent,” rights to due
process, prior to anyone being penalized
with City of San Jose job dismissal
and/or Administrative leave? Will
it cost taxpayers? Should this be on
the November, 2022.ballot? Thank you.

Example: Organized CALPERS crime rings,
violating laws, with each accomplice,
concerned about whistleblower’s retaliation,
effects on career. Is it society see, society
do-a very serious question, as it is the
SJPD (and other PD’s, dependent upon
jurisdiction, who need to respond).

SCC Board of Supervisors need to take
action to assure US Constitution and
US Federal laws are respected. (Scienter
Laws would help dissipate the aforementioned
CALPERS organized crime rings).

Thank you.