Letters To The
Editor:
Recently, Councilor Ellen Hillman of Montville tried to draft a resolution
demanding that state legislators grant towns the ability to reject binding
arbitration in municipal contracts, saying, “We have been a slave to binding
arbitration ever since the legislature said towns have to abide by it.” Ms.
Hillman's efforts were defeated, 4-3.
The main culprit across
this state is the education portion of each municipal budget. The following is
from a June 2003 article by Barry Nash: “Here is my question for the powers
that be in all 169 towns covered by this so-called mandatory arbitration: How
much longer are you going to put up with this nonsense before you rebel?”
Mandated arbitration continues out of fear by town officials who freeze at the
thought of being labeled “anti-education.”
Elected officials must
swallow bravery pills and inform legislators that laws must be written to rid
taxpayers of binding arbitration. Educators are seldom satisfied with a town's
ability to pay for more benefits and higher salaries. Towns are held hostage to
educator's demands knowing that 80 percent to 90 percent of the time,
arbitration rules in favor of educators. I would vote to give teachers the
right to strike. There is nothing like walking the picket line on a cold rainy
day in December.
Towns should be able to
look at their income and decide what to pay educators. Nothing would please me
more than to see Ledyard try to do what Ellen Hillman attempted to do. Often we
read articles about the need to shift the burden on property taxes in this
state. Abolition of mandated arbitration would help.
