Mayor slashes ALL city employees down to minimum wage

[2011GT]

Pray tell how they will be getting paid when there is no money to pay them?

Stevo

When you don't have the money to pay contractual agreements you must ask for concessions or file bankruptcy and have the judge decide. If the city doesn't file either then there will be 398 lawsuits against the city.

[DON SVO]

When you don't have the money to pay contractual agreements you must ask for concessions or file bankruptcy and have the judge decide. If the city doesn't file either then there will be 398 lawsuits against the city.

If the city, which is already on the brink of being insolvent, has no funds prior to a judgement... then what? Who's titty will they suck into a dried-out, dusty saddle bag shell of it's former self?

I'm not bashing unions (I am a union member), I'm being realistic.

[YALE]

When you don't have the money to pay contractual agreements you must ask for concessions or file bankruptcy and have the judge decide. If the city doesn't file either then there will be 398 lawsuits against the city.

They're probably going to pass a bond package to float it, then go to Harrisburg hat in hand for some state money. They won't actually fix anything. PA is just like everywhere else in America.

[2011GT]

If the city, which is already on the brink of being insolvent, has no funds prior to a judgement... then what? Who's titty will they suck into a dried-out, dusty saddle bag shell of it's former self?

I'm not bashing unions (I am a union member), I'm being realistic.

Put yourself in their shoes for a minute. I would be pissed. I would want my money. I would also be moving the hell out of that shit hole of a city. It sucks but there is a contract.

Here's an easy comparison. You have a 2 year contract on your cell phone. You decide to (or forced to) not pay your bill any more because you don't have any money. They don't care that your broke. They wont give you any pity. They are going to send your ass to collections. Don't pay collections? They can garnish your wages.

By the way I'm not singling you out. I understand your point. I used to work for AA and I left a few months after they filed bankruptcy. I'm not going to let a judge decide how much I'm worth or work for a company that can't manage to make a buck.

[2011GT]

They're probably going to pass a bond package to float it, then go to Harrisburg hat in hand for some state money. They won't actually fix anything. PA is just like everywhere else in America.

That's whats so sad. People think borrowing from Peter to pay Paul fixes everything. People need to wake up and realize this IS the economy. It has been over inflated for years.

[DON SVO]

Put yourself in their shoes for a minute. I would be pissed. I would want my money. I would also be moving the hell out of that shit hole of a city. It sucks but there is a contract.

Here's an easy comparison. You have a 2 year contract on your cell phone. You decide to (or forced to) not pay your bill any more because you don't have any money. They don't care that your broke. They wont give you any pity. They are going to send your ass to collections. Don't pay collections? They can garnish your wages.

By the way I'm not singling you out. I understand your point. I used to work for AA and I left a few months after they filed bankruptcy. I'm not going to let a judge decide how much I'm worth or work for a company that can't manage to make a profit.

There's a very glaring difference... this contract is to guarantee pay, not to guarantee PAYMENT. The person paying a cell phone bill will br granted leniency from the cell phone carrier for several months before service is shut off and collections begins. On the flip side, the city contract states that the employee must be paid, however, like the cell phone carrier in your example... you can string them up and draw & quarter them. You can't get blood from a turnip.

[Forever_frost]

There's a very glaring difference... this contract is to guarantee pay, not to guarantee PAYMENT. The person paying a cell phone bill will br granted leniency from the cell phone carrier for several months before service is shut off and collections begins. On the flip side, the city contract states that the employee must be paid, however, like the cell phone carrier in your example... you can string them up and draw & quarter them. You can't get blood from a turnip.

And the city can, as soon as the suit is filed, declare bankruptcy and flip off the unions. Then you hire new police and fire based on an affordable standard supportable by taxes.

[2011GT]

And the city can, as soon as the suit is filed, declare bankruptcy and flip off the unions. Then you hire new police and fire based on an affordable standard supportable by taxes.

Very true. However I'm not so sure the city will be flooded with applications to pay minimum wages to law enforcement and fire fighters.

Also we the tax payers will be obligated to pay for their pensions (if they have any). Pensions are all guaranteed by the government. http://www.pbgc.gov/ This is regardless if the city files bankruptcy.

It also seems to be laying off 398 employees is going to put a bigger strain on that poor city. I really don't have any pity for a city that can't manage it's own funds. I'm sure there is other money that can be moved around.

[talisman]

Don't pay collections? They can garnish your wages.

No they can't. Not in Texas.

[2011GT]

No they can't. Not in Texas.

I didn't realize that. What can they do then? Just ding your credit history?

[Forever_frost]

Very true. However I'm not so sure the city will be flooded with applications to pay minimum wages to law enforcement and fire fighters.

Also we the tax payers will be obligated to pay for their pensions (if they have any). Pensions are all guaranteed by the government. http://www.pbgc.gov/ This is regardless if the city files bankruptcy.

It also seems to be laying off 398 employees is going to put a bigger strain on that poor city. I really don't have any pity for a city that can't manage it's own funds. I'm sure there is other money that can be moved around.

Not really. County officers cover police calls and have you heard of volunteer firefighters? All the rage.

[talisman]

I didn't realize that. What can they do then? Just ding your credit history?

Yup. It'll ding your credit, and if it is big enough they might sue you. Even if they win they can't garnish your wages. The judgement will stick around for 10 years, but nothing else will happen.

[abecx]

thats right suck my dick collections

[2011GT]

Not really. County officers cover police calls and have you heard of volunteer firefighters? All the rage.

volunteer firefighters out in the sticks yes, volunteer firefighters in a city of 76k no...

[Forever_frost]

volunteer firefighters out in the sticks yes, volunteer firefighters in a city of 76k no...

Why not? The trucks are already there, as is the equipment.