New Haven Independent

Posted by: Union Guy | February 24, 2009 7:59 PM

I love labor unions. Their health benefits saved my mother's life and their commitment to American workers is phenomenal.

But . . .

New Haven's city unions are led by CRAZY people. The economy is in the sewer. Their members are going to get laid off in large numbers.

Unions shouldn't sacrifice younger members for those with more seniority.

While there are times to stand on principle and let people be laid off -- these are not those times. People who are laid off are not going to get new jobs.

There are no new jobs being created. So the unions are going to let a couple hundred families go without bread winners? Will union leaders cough up money for heat, groceries or school diapers? I don't think they get that we are in economic free-fall.

How does anyone think they are going to be able to keep their raises in this economic climate.

A union is not just to protect those with seniority. It's to protect all of the workers.

I am ashamed. It won't turn me off supporting labor or EFCA in the future. But it does make me think that New Haven's city employees and the residents of this city who are about to lose tons of services are not well served by the majority of New Haven's unions.

I'm not sure who these guys think they represent.

Posted by: Robert Montuori | February 24, 2009 8:09 PM

Melissa Bailey
Just for the record the comment of the Police and fire should give back was not made by me Robert Montuori the president of the custodian Union local 287.That comment was made by someone else at the meeting.The comment that I made was that the cities non Union workers should give back also.I would hope you would check and make the necessary adjustments!! [Ed: sorry for the error. The comment has been omitted. MB]

Posted by: kris | February 24, 2009 8:09 PM

DeStefano asks if any others are getting 4% raises.Well JD the answer is yes.Where you ask? At YNHH. Why? Because we dont have a union. I thank god (and Marna) everyday that she didnt listen to you and your horse shit about ynhh needing a union.You held up the cancer center and said how ynhh was rotten and the employees needed a union.Who's laughing now JD? The city is broke and going to hell in a hand basket and ynhh is expanding,hiring and giving raises up to 5%.Maybe Marna should be mayor.Hey where the hell has 1199 been?They arent hanging out at ynhh telling hospital workers how we need a union and how we could have a great contract.A great contract like city workers,right?!

Posted by: NotaKnowItAll | February 25, 2009 2:04 AM

I think New Haven needs to do what Obama's administration is doing now...going line by line on the budget to see what can be cut and surely what cannot be cut.
We all know there are services we can live without. For instance, we need essential police and fire/medical services, and trash pick up. But do we really NEED pretty flowers and police horses? We could probably get by for a few years without those things until the economy stabilizes.
I just hate to see some civil servants lose their jobs while other city workers keep theirs. Like, why would you consider laying off teachers when you have an army of flower planters and blacksmiths?
I think the city could demand a better job from department heads in reviewing the minor expenses they have. Nickels and dimes can add up to some serious numbers.
Finally, I think that just about every city agency can afford to stop or limit some services. Everyone knows that times are tough and limitations of services can be reasonably expected. Before lay-offs, redevelop civil service rules to move staff around to suit other needs. Like, put flower planters in positions of revenue making...like meter-maids or tax collecting. lol.
I don't mean to pick on you flower planters specifically, but I'm sure even you could realize the world will still function without you.

Posted by: Disgusted with the administration | February 25, 2009 1:57 PM

To all new haven independent readers if everyone goes back to an article posted on October 15, 2008 the custodians and the BOE reached a deal for concessions in which we allowed our engineers to become mobile that in turn saved the city over $200,000 and prevented nine layoffs. Now here we are 4 months later and Mr. Johnny D wants $467,000 more. Just for the record I don't know if anyone is aware of this but the custodial unions contract expires on June 30, 2009. we are more than willing to help the city get out of this deficit however we are set to begin contract negotiations. I am sure Mr. Johnny D.and his hired guns will attempt to rip us apart. Having said that why would we give back a second time in 4 months and than have to a third time in another 4 months after that.Paying $200,000 + $467,000 plus contract negotiations you do the math.To add insult to injury Jonnny D is talking of privatization. He is using these horrible times and trying to rip, and bust unions apart. This is my job and my only job I take it very seriously as do the majority of us. privatization is like stealing from our families and our chilren.So if anyone takes anything out of this post just know that local 287 is more than wiiling to help,and did so 4 months ago. we will conitnue to help I am sure when we are in contract negotiations. Also Mr. Johnny D. changes like the weather he never gave us a real proposal on what he wanted he went from percentages of pension and medical to an outrageous medical plan in which no human being would want.Then it went to 2 furlough days then to part timers and privatization. Now how do we give back when every week he wants something new. It is obvious Mr. Johnny d. just wants to lay off. He would rather lay off his own people that really do the work for the taxpayers than get rid of the private mangement company (AFB) in which costs over 1.2 MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS that literally do nothing but redundent services. And you have the nerve to call your self a Democrat.

Posted by: sick of the bs | February 25, 2009 6:06 PM

I dont understand how the city can ask the unions for givebacks when they are still paying afb management to over look the maintenance dept. when they already have supervisors!!
Disgusted i agree, 1.2 million for a company to do nothing!! They are not in the schools doing the work.WHAT A WASTE!!!

Posted by: The Truth | February 25, 2009 9:43 PM

The voters are pissed at all the tax hikes. 50% in 5 years is way above inflation. Johnny Boy knows if he lays off it will get him votes. Best thing the unions can do is take the cuts and try to get a good candidate for mayor.

Posted by: ummm | February 25, 2009 10:17 PM

"Do you know of any other worker that's getting those kind of raises?" DeStefano asked.

The answer is YOU King John. Give back more than the paltry 3-4% lets see 10% at least. Same should go for far overpaid Mayo.

and what is AFB?

Posted by: Retired 287 | February 26, 2009 2:20 AM

287, stick to your guns! Don't give in to this BS. Montouri, I wish you were President when I was still in. As a retiree, I'm waiting for the next step, where they start taking away from my pension and Medical. After close to 30 years on the job, and service to the City, my pension is what pays my mortgage and my exorbitant city taxes, which are ever increasing.

Since the 1940s, Local 287 has fought to bring decent benefits and wages to it's members. And those wages were not out of line with the private sector, as many folk tend to believe. There's also been numerous givebacks since those days. The City has always used the carrot and stick method. Threaten (or actually employ) layoffs, and hold up the carrot of just keeping the job you've held for years, but of course at a lower wage.

Do not fall for this nonsense, 287. In the early eighties the City wanted to bring in "floaters", at $7.00/hour. The membership had a vote on it. Couldn't pass, right? Well, the City offered a one time cash signing bonus, and guess what? It passed. Carrot and stick.

Hold your ground. I, and the people before me, gave up other items to achieve the standard that you now have. If you look at the history of 287, there were MANY concessions made to the City. Perhaps our previous union leadership should have made this more known. Few people know of the givebacks 287 has already done. Wage cuts, staff reductions, semi-privatization, Aramark (what a fiasco that was), pension and medical give backs, etc. We've been at this point numerous times, and we've given back numerous times. This might have been fine if it helped the city, but when the administration is so fiscally irresponsible, then the same situation will happen year after year.

One thing I've always been amazed at is the public perception of 287, or even custodians in general. There's great public sympathy for the Motel 6 worker, and you all will leave a generous tip for the worker that changes your sheets when you're on vacation in Atlantic City, yet when you say "custodian", the public mindset is overpaid "janitors". This is far from the truth. The public school system today would not function without the custodians work. Contrary to the general belief, it's not just cleaning, sweeping and mopping toilet floors. This is who is responsible for opening the schools for your children, making sure they are in a safe environment, ensuring that they are warm in the middle of the winter, and comfortable in the summer, giving them a decent and clean environment to eat in, ordering the supplies that the school needs to function, and maintaining the many mechanical functions that a public school requires. Far cry from a "janitor."

In short, don't give back what's taken years of city worker's sweat to achieve. It's way past time for City Hall to give something back, not the people who can least afford it.

(And Bob, I think you're doing a great job, keep it up!)

Posted by: Joe | February 26, 2009 3:54 AM

Those of you that believe outsourcing will save taxpayer money are completely incorrect. The cost of outsourcing to "consultants" is usually at least 30% higher then using employees. This is considering benifits.

The consultants should be let go first before any layoffs are considered.

I have a few ideas:

1. Why not insource every postion that is currently done by a consultant and force the positions to be within the salery ranges of city employees?
2. What if contract raises were done away with and performance based raises of between 1 and 4% yearly were instituted. Union and non-union workers would get raises based on their performance and they would recieve performance appraisals every 6 months. The top 20% performers would recieve the most percentage increase.
3. What if unpaid time off was provided as a means to control costs rather then permanent givebacks? The number of days would be the same no matter what union you were in or if you were an appointment, even the top managers would be subjected to it. So what if everyone had a week off unpaid. I would not mind.
4. Oh, and we really need to think about a better management team for the city pension funds. Maybe people with a bit more real skill with investing.

Posted by: disgusted with the administration | February 26, 2009 10:29 AM

Ummm
AFB is a private management company just like Aramark.They are paid over a million dollars to do the job the Mayor Mayo and Will clark can not do.That would be hold the city employees accountable of course that is not an option that would mean the would have to be accountable.

Posted by: Disgusted with Johnny Boy | February 26, 2009 5:59 PM

Johnny D, here is a question for you...since you are essentially trying to rape the city employees of everything we have worked very hard to get, since you are unwilling to compromise and accept ANYTHING less than our sweat AND blood, since you want to beat us down and tell us it's for our own good...when are you going to do your share? Ok, your paltry percentage you say you are giving up, hmmmm, that's from the 14% raise you gave yourself!! Where is your city paid car? Or should I say cars? Are you driving yourself now or are you still having a patrol officer drive you? I can understand, really, you must be afraid to drive yourself in crime crazy New Haven.

It breaks my heart to know that tomorrow people will be handed slips and told, thanks for the memories, see ya! Oh, and by the way, can I count on your vote? ARE YOU SERIOUS????? I have to hand it to you Johnny Boy, you have some serious coj$nes... Here, Mary, Joe, Bob, here is your slip, can't pay your mortgage next month? Oh well. Car going to be repo'ed? Oh well. Can't feed your kids? Oh well. But hey, (insert slick dusgusting smile), it's not my fault! It's the unions! They won't give me everything and a bag of chips! they want to compromise, COMPROMISE! How dare these people want to be able to pay their bills! How dare the city workers want to feed their kids!! They should be willing to live in the shelters, or in a box under the bridge!

Oh no wait, Johnny, when the bank comes knocking at my door, can I come stay with you?

Johnny, you should be ashamed of yourself! And remember something, what comes around goes around! Just ask Ganim and Roland! Can you really look yourself in the mirror? Really? As for me, I think you are disgusting.

For all of you who think the unions and it's members are just being selfish, think on this, we are not "city workers", we are people, we have families, kids, mortgages, UI bills, high heating bills, car notes, grocery bills, etc....we have financial responsibilities and unless you've had your heads buried in the sand for the last year, you know, the banks don't want to hear, "um sorry, I can't pay my mortgage, is it ok if I live here for free?" This wouldn't be a case of people who got mortgages they couldn't afford, but rather their pay being cut, their medical being raised sky high, while Johnny Dear sits pretty in his office with HIS raise, driving a city car, living in his Westville home, secure in the knowledge that he can feed you anything with a little sauce on top and you will eat it, ask for a second helping and oh yeah, let's reelect him cuz he's done such a bang up job!

Do I sound bitter? You better #!$#$# believe it, because he has made us out to be the bad guy and you are eating it up! As for me, I know he's the #%$ on the bottom of the shoe of New Haven...

Posted by: henry | February 27, 2009 9:41 PM

Johnny D. Always screwing up, thinks he is hot S. We really need a mayor who cares about the people. He only speaks and tries to be nice when he wants something from them. Now he as messed up new haven. Did he let his little friends from his office go? How many does he have working in his office? Has anyone inquired as to how many minorities he has working for him or in his office or on his campaign? What is he?