At the very same time - Montgomery County officials are trying to undo the Charter Amendment.
1. Abolish Collective Bargaining Petition
Abolish Collective Bargaining Petition
March 31, 2012 Send petition to someone else PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT TO ABOLISH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
This is a petition pursuant to Md. Const. art. XI-A, § 5, and Montgomery County Charter § 507 to submit to the voters of Montgomery County in the next general election a proposal to amend the Charter of Montgomery County to abolish collective bargaining for public employees of the County by deleting Sections 510, 510A, and 511 from the Montgomery County Charter, which provide as follows:
Sec. 510. Collective Bargaining.
The Montgomery County Council shall provide by law for collective bargaining with binding arbitration with an authorized representative of the Montgomery County police officers. Any law so enacted shall prohibit strikes or work stoppages by police officers.
Sec. 510A Collective Bargaining-Fire Fighters.
The Montgomery County Council shall provide by law for collective bargaining with binding arbitration with an authorized representative of the Montgomery County career fire fighters. Any law so enacted shall prohibit strikes or work stoppages by career fire fighters.
Sec. 511. Collective Bargaining-County Employees.
The Montgomery County Council may provide by law for collective bargaining, with arbitration or other impasse resolution procedures, with authorized representatives of officers and employees of the County Government not covered by either Section 510 or Section 510A of the Charter. Any law so enacted shall prohibit strikes or work stoppages for such officers and employees.
One thing I can assure each and every one of you reading this, the exact moment the Sheriff's Department gets LEOPS, every single veteran officer within the Sheriff's Department WILL instantaneously RETIRE.
The Sheriff's Department continues to lose officers on a regular basis and the smart veterans who stuck around awaiting collective bargaining will also jump ship. It's a grand slam home run for these officers at taxpayers expense, yet NO ONE is willing to step up against Sheriff Lewis and ask about anything to do with the facts I'm now presenting to you.
Mike knows it, Rick Pollitt knows it, Deputies are running away from that department like there's no tomorrow, yet nothing is being said in the Press about it. I have spoken to Officers that jumped ship and they couldn't stand working there. So much so many of them are taking massive pay cuts just to get the hell out of there.
in the mean time, while our local politicians are always comparing us to Montgomery county, look what Montgomery County Taxpayers are trying to do, (above). LOOK back at the information I posted a few weeks ago about Ocean City salaries. Most of the highest paid people were actually Police Officers and NO, the information we provided had nothing to do with overtime.
So not only is crime going through the roof in Wicomico County, people are selling their homes at a loss just to go to Delaware. It's things like collective bargaining that will probably bankrupt the county, or come damn close to it. If Officers were lining up at the front door to join the Sheriff's Department, that would be one thing. However, they are running away so fast they can't find people fast enough and crime continues to rise. Oh, I'm sure Sheriff Lewis will try to tell you crime is down but that too would be a load of crap.
Last Tuesday they had more than 17 drug arrests alone and nothing, (so far) has come out in a press release. I did send a text message to the Sheriff's Department asking if it would be an issue if I were to publish that information and they refused to respond, so here it is.
So while SOME may be pounding their chest in victory, know that Salisbury News at least delivered the facts, the truth about what is going on and what is going to happen in the near future. IF they want to use Montgomery County as an example then they should follow in their footsteps. You don't need that "crystal ball" if you have a sister county going through the same issues in advance. It's not about what is right, it's about winning and getting what SOME simply want.
New Posts to fall below.
The ordinary taxpayers in Wicomico County do not know it - but they are being ambushed!
ReplyDeleteThe County Council is, once again, being misled by the County Executive's office into believing that this is necessary.
Isn't it interesting though - that AT THIS PRECISE MOMENT - Montgomery taxpayers have seen the folly of their ways and are trying to rectify a bad situation while Wicomico officials are getting ready to 'take-a-dip' in the same pool that Montgomery is trying to exodus.
Wow - life continues to amaze me. You would never read this type of information on The Daily Times.
How about in the State of Wisconsin - the entire State rescinded all collective barganing.
ReplyDeleteAt least their state legislature saw the error of their ways and addressed it.
Now - if only our Wicomico County Council will follow suit and do what is right for our citizenry.
Joe - this is really big news. I just went to Montgomery County's petition drive website address:
ReplyDeletehttp://montgomerypetitions.com/
I hope you keep this post up all day. The people are not aware of what is about to go down around here. They have no idea.
I now see why Sussex Co. plays hardball with their counties sheriff force. If only ours would do the same as Sussex Co. officials - then we might be able to shave some money around here.
ReplyDeleteTo 2:14 Post - Come on now, if you were on the deputies side of the fence I am sure you would approve of the collective barganing agreement, bennies, perks, etc.
ReplyDeleteHave you all forgotten that you voted for the Sheriffs office to have collective bargaining? Those blaming Rick Pollit are just plain ignorant.
ReplyDeleteThere are way to many empires in and around wicomico. Looks as though another one is about to soon spring-up.
ReplyDeleteUnions have ruined everybody's budget...Get rid of them.
ReplyDeleteTo 2:33 Post
ReplyDeleteYou can speak for yourself - I'm on the opposite side of the fence. On my side - is my right hip pocket and that is my ..ss that it is attached to.
Collective barging is nothing without binding arbitration. Ask any Maryland State Trooper who have had a contract with the state to get a step every year. They have not gotten steps in 10 years. The contract is based on the ability of the state funding to pay for the steps and firbthe last ten years the governors have said sorry it's not in the budget.
ReplyDeleteJust put the blame on the citizens of this county. They voted for the deputies to have collective bargaining. Now Rick and the council have to follow their wishes just like they do for the revenue cap. You people don't know what you have done to the county. And now the state is doing more to harm it, too.
ReplyDeleteI voted for them to have it, but I had no idea they were going to abuse it. I say force the ones to retire before implementing it......its only right.
ReplyDeleteIf you are referring to Wicomico county, they have not even started yet, so how are they abusing it? One commenter is right, those of you that voted for this, the revenue cap, and the county executive have no idea of what you have done. You don't understand the cap and what it does, and the council is ignorant for not allowing it to at least function the way it was designed. THAT is why the state is going after our income tax. Because they can see that this county is not doing all that it can for education. When I say all it can, I mean to work within the limits of the cap. Blame the council for the states new plan.
DeleteWe can always put it up for public referendum to repeal it just like in Montgomery.
ReplyDeleteI wish they would do it right now as the verdict is out on collective barganing. It has ruined our country.
W/O collective barganing, the pay in this area will continue to be low. But, most of all, the employees of wicomico county will continued to be mistreated. And, that good 'ole boy system will strive on point. The county employees need representation. If you folk don't think so, then you work for the sheriff department and the detention center. The pau sucks. The criminals are laughing. And alot of civilians will become afraid. Please, don't bring your corruption to delaware. We don't want it.
ReplyDeleteTo 8:25
ReplyDeleteYou are forgetting that after record funding of the BOE from 2003 - 2010 what happened to our economy?
It tanked and has never recovered since. This is what education did for our economy. It drained all of our resources and all for what.
1. Record unemployment
2. Mass exodus of businesses
In other words the educational system systemically broke the camels back. The college refers to it as 'brain drain'. I say our economy is more like comotose.
All I read on these comments are who do we blame? The Council, Rick,the citizens or the State?
ReplyDeleteI think there is enough blame to go around to all of the above mentioned. Let's all act like adults here and stop blaming and work towards solutions together.
give facts not your opinion, you talked to a few unhappy officers, big deal...one fact is you havent talked to all veteran officers and they all are not going to jump ship.....tell us what the turn over rate is.... you do not give facts but your opinion
ReplyDeleteThey,... being the civic minded, benevolent paramilitary force, should be advocating sacrifice for the greater good of the community demanding a 5% reduction in pay.
ReplyDeleteWhat we really need is a petition to reverse the county executive level and the bureaucracy that goes along with it.
ReplyDeleteThe county was doing much better before the county executive referendum. Kick all of their cans down the road, for good.
I 100% agree with 931am!!! We need to shave and cut cost, the executive and his clan have done nothing but run families and businesses away magnifying the problems...he hasnt balanced anything since he's been here!
ReplyDelete