Granddad Speaks Out On Collective Bargaining

Joe,

Yesterday someone commented on the D/T grapevine about Rick Pollitt and his support of collective bargaining for the Wicomico County Sheriff's Deputies. As a result of the printed comment, several people responded via Internet comments. Although you don't usually print things that generate from the D/T, I would ask that you consider reproducing this e-mail on the blog because I feel that it will generate responses that will serve to enlighten the public.

As you know, I am a registered Republican and am not, in most instances, pro union. I am not towing a party line, I just believe that in the private sector they serve only to keep money flowing to pay high salaries to union reps who don't do 1/4 of the work of the people who work hard everyday to pay dues. They have also served more recently to facilitate the closure of local places of employment and the loss of many, many much needed jobs. That being said, collective bargaining for the Deputies differs from private sector unions, and I support it wholeheartedly. My reasoning is this:

First.....Deputies and all other emergency services personnel are subjected to intense political pressures as a result of either doing or not doing their jobs. Anyone who doubts that - write a councilman a ticket for speeding and see what happens. Fail to patrol the neighborhood of an elected official when requested and see what happens. There are no laws to protect law enforcement officials from retaliation and if there were, 99.9% of the time the law enforcement officers wouldn't have the money to pay an attorney to represent them in a court action necessary to protect their rights. I highly doubt that the current Sheriff would permit his administration to treat the deputies poorly, but I know for a fact that his predecessor did - frequently. And there is no way to know what the next Sheriff would be like. Additionally, in the private sector anyone who works more than 40 hours a week is entitled by law to receive monetary compensation at the rate of 1 1/2 times their regular hourly rate. BUT emergency services personnel aren't entitled to receive 1 1/2 times their regular rate of pay until they work over 172 hours in a 28 day cycle.

There are instances where police officers have mortgaged their homes to pay for a legal defense against a blatant violation of their rights only to run out of money before the case was heard by the court. A government can postpone and stall as long as it takes. The governments money never runs out as long as the tax money comes in. A collective bargaining contract can keep labor issues in a local court and can help assure that they're heard in a timely manner. It levels the playing field and allows the deputies to get a fair shake on important matters such as disability and retirement.

Second....and maybe most importantly....the People voted for it. 70% of the voting public voted to grant the deputies collective bargaining with binding arbitration and our county council people decided to water down the vote of the people. They hunted for a loophole and they elected to hang their decision on whether or not the word "county" referred to the newly elected county executive OR the council. It is clear to me that the word "county" referred to both. By doing what the council is doing they have effectively removed "binding arbitration". This is something the PEOPLE specifically voted for.

What gives the county council the right to over ride a vote of the people? I have spoken to my council person who has taken a weak position on the matter. He indicated that he wasn't sure the people knew what they were voting for. Well....did the people know what they were doing when they voted you in? Are you saying that you constituents are stupid? Your vote to eliminate binding arbitration is a slap in the face to your constituents. There were safeguards that could have been put in place that would have eliminated the possibility of causing the taxpayer financial hardship WITHOUT undermining the will of the people. How dare you stand in in the face of your constituents and intentionally contradict their wishes!

We need to look aroud us and see whats happening. More and more people are crossing party lines and voting for the candidate they think will do the best job regardless of their party affiliation. People can say what they want about me being a republican and not believing in everything a republican politician says or does. That's just tough shit. A very important part of our democracy has been forgotten. That is the part that says our elected officials are supposed to represent us. They are simply not doing it. They are doing what they choose to do. I would pose this question to the members of the county council. Where is it listed as part of the core beliefs of your respective parties that you should ignore what the people want and do as you please? You are representatives....not dictators. And it's not a matter of what side of the isle you sit on. The democrats are just as guilty as the republicans. It's not just national or state politics, it's local politics as well. Look at what the mayor is doing to the city.

The voters of Wicomico County would do well to stand up and demand that their will be carried out by the county council. The FOP would do well to not let this thing go much further without having a judge review the intent of the referendum to stop those council people involved from circumventing the will of the people.

People across the nation are demanding change. They are tired of speaking out and not being heard. The political tide is changing and this type of behavior by our elected officials is precisely the reason. The people want representatives in office who will do the work of the people, rather that find reasons to ignore the people and do what they want.

Rick...great job. John and Joe.....very disappointing indeed. But...elections will come around again. This time maybe the people will be more enlightened.

Grand dad will be watchin'.