That would be the law and not one of the pine trees that overlook the Home. NH has an Evergreen law that basically says "Contract with union employees NEVER runs out"; it stays in force until a new one is negotiated and signed. In these tough times, I’m betting that more than a few unions are still genuflecting to the now super-minority Dems for this gift that can last forever.
Well, my town is now being held hostage by one of these – the local police, members of the Teamsters Union now (really? The TEAMSTERS? For the Police dept? Someone really failed to clue them in on the PR ramifications on THAT decision). Their contract is up and now they are just sitting – and smiling (page 2). ALL THE OTHER town employees have seen the economic picture for those that are paying their salaries and have done their part in reducing the cost to taxpayers. These guys? Nope:
Meanwhile, the selectmen are forced to ponder why one specific group of employees is unwilling to make any concessions concerning benefits at a time when it’s common knowledge that taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet and all employment sectors, public and private, are faced with difficult economic realities.
Ponder? Not a problem – it’s all about "who has the power and control" – that is what a union is all about. I’ll leave it for another post to get into the why/fors, but they may find it IS all about the $$$$. Well, decisions have consequences and the Gilford Police union may find that they are putting their fellow members at risk like they did in Camden when concessions were requested because the city was bankrupt. In that case, it was "give up some to save some of your fellow union folks’ paychecks ".
They refused – and hundreds were let go. They expected that, once again, the taxpayers would be forced to ante up; they lost that bet. Here?
If an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement cannot be reached in the near future,Hayes has indicated the selectmen may be forced to curtail some overtime or reduce coverage on some shifts in order to continue to pay for the wages and benefits that are required under the expired union contract.
I notice that the words layoffs or firings were not used. Wonder if that was done deliberately (as in "not now") or not (as in "unspoken").
Once again, NH Gov. Christie absolutely gets it right when a NJ cop is whining he isn’t going to get a raise – talk about a lack of empathy by public employees:
Policeman: “My salary went up 2%. And after the increase in my healthcare costs went in, do you know how much my check went up Sir? $4. How am I supposed to live on that?”
Gov. Christie: “Here’s the difference. You’re getting a paycheck. And there are 9% of the people in the state of NJ who are not.”
