There have been a number of comments, probably by Daley drones, taunting our readers about the arbitration process ending without retro checks and zero percent raises for the next contract.
Arbitration is not without risks. But it's also a chance at something better than what was being offered. And the Arbitrator who ends up being chosen is bound by certain rules and precedents. The offer of 16.1% for 5 years was, in our opinion, horseshit. If the 50 aldercreatures who allegedly have their fingers on the financial pulse of the city felt comfortable in accepting a 6% raise for their part-time jobs, and had no qualms about giving their staffers a 5% raise, and had no trouble accepting an increase in their $1 million in "ward allowances," then we have to accept that the City IS NOT in dire financial straits.
And if the mayor is comfortable in allowing the Superintendent to keep his $310,000 after eliminating half of his duties, then we'll have to accept that the mayor is getting the most bang for his buck.
If Government collects more money than it spends, it is obligated to either (A) spend it or (B) rebate it to the tax payers. There isn't supposed to be a "rainy day fund" or some "Olympic fund" or anything like that. Contract obligations take precedence over these "funds" and must be met. So all of the City books have to be opened. Daley has sold the meters, the parking garages, the Skyway for billions and has TIF money stashed away in all sorts of accounts. That all has to be brought out into the open and it will reveal that the city is far from broke. To that end, we urge the following:
Arbitration is not without risks. But it's also a chance at something better than what was being offered. And the Arbitrator who ends up being chosen is bound by certain rules and precedents. The offer of 16.1% for 5 years was, in our opinion, horseshit. If the 50 aldercreatures who allegedly have their fingers on the financial pulse of the city felt comfortable in accepting a 6% raise for their part-time jobs, and had no qualms about giving their staffers a 5% raise, and had no trouble accepting an increase in their $1 million in "ward allowances," then we have to accept that the City IS NOT in dire financial straits.
And if the mayor is comfortable in allowing the Superintendent to keep his $310,000 after eliminating half of his duties, then we'll have to accept that the mayor is getting the most bang for his buck.
If Government collects more money than it spends, it is obligated to either (A) spend it or (B) rebate it to the tax payers. There isn't supposed to be a "rainy day fund" or some "Olympic fund" or anything like that. Contract obligations take precedence over these "funds" and must be met. So all of the City books have to be opened. Daley has sold the meters, the parking garages, the Skyway for billions and has TIF money stashed away in all sorts of accounts. That all has to be brought out into the open and it will reveal that the city is far from broke. To that end, we urge the following:
- File for arbitration first thing Monday morning. It's obvious the City has been bargaining in bad faith. Make them open the books and justify every nickel. If the teachers can get 4.5% with a 50% dropout rate and a climbing illiteracy rate, anything less for cops is ridiculous.
- File a lawsuit in Federal Court demanding the City use this stash of unaccounted money and sale of assets to fully fund the pension in accordance with State Law. Make some waves. Call Shortshanks' bluff. Make him even more miserable by pointing out his constant hypocrisy.
This is a half-assed move by a man feeling pressure. Something is crumbling in his house of cards and a few good kicks will either uncover something or collapse part of it. We are uniting in rage against a common enemy. Keep it together.
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