The Demise of Collective Bargaining is An Opportunity for State and Municipal Economic Reform. The alternative is bankruptcy, and ironically, union contracts could be annulled.  

By Susan Kniep, Former Mayor of East Hartford, CT

President, The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations
Website: http://ctact.org/
Email: fctopresident@aol.com
Telephone: 860-841-8032

In 2010, the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association claimed sexual discrimination through the courts in an attempt to have taxpayers fund $800,000 dollars for drugs that treat erectile dysfunction.  

In March, 2011, unions in Orange, CT won a grievance requiring taxpayers to provide them with free coffee.

As many Americans struggle with their own healthcare costs, their elected officials throughout the country have signed contracts to provide healthcare benefits to government retirees at a cost to taxpayers of $1.5 trillion.  

The aforementioned are examples of the negative impact municipal and state unions have on taxpayer funded budgets which become burdened with the costs of litigation, the drug Viagra, coffee, and gold plated healthcare plans.  

The State of Connecticut, similar to Wisconsin, is faced with a near $4 billion deficit.  Connecticut’s debt at $72 billion is driven by union pension and healthcare retiree benefits.  The unions are strong.  Connecticut’s democrat-controlled state legislature is weak by yielding to their demands, failing to reject multi-million dollar arbitration awards, and refusing to reform collective bargaining laws.    

Connecticut public sector workers are the second highest paid in the nation, with an average wage of $77, 697.  Some pensions exceed $200,000. 

 

Connecticut taxpayers help the unions raise money as taxpayers pay to process the payment of union dues.   Annual dues total approximately $35 million annually.  

 

The majority of Americans believe that their elected officials are in control of their government’s operations, finances, and personnel.  They are wrong!  Union contracts solidify more than just wages, pensions and healthcare. 

 

Through collective bargaining, management rights are steadily being transferred to unions to include the number of students in a classroom, the scheduling of police personnel, the number of men required to fill a pothole and more. 

Contracts are negotiated in secrecy and the taxpayer handed the bill. Nearly, 85% of property taxes pay for personnel related expenses.       

Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin was right to reject collective bargaining.  Other states should follow his lead as the demise of collective bargaining is an opportunity for state and municipal economic reform.   The alternative is  bankruptcy, and ironically, union contracts could be annulled.