Labor Pains

Labor union leaders write to the Chairman of the State Democratic Party, concerned about the possibility that the Legislature might actually display some moxie and address public employee benefits, hours, wages, etc.

While miracles happen, the odds of the Democrats acting in the interests of the taxpayer when it comes to state employee wages and benefits approaches zero. Oh, perhaps a little bit around the edges, like marginally higher co-pays on prescriptions and the like. But nothing truly serious. That for precisely the reason expressed in the Bosses’ letter:

"... many of us that have supported, and worked tirelessly on behalf of New Jersey Democrats, year after year, election after election..."

Truer words were never spoken. Public employees represent the single largest, richest element of the Democratic Party constituency. Democrats believe in Big Government, which requires quite a few folks to staff it. Republicans – theoretically – support smaller government. Hence, although one finds individual Republicans in the ranks for unionized public employees, collectively, public employees and Democrats make common cause, as the latter believe in hiring lots of the former at good wages, a portion of which wages gets kicked back to the Dems in the form of massive campaign contributions. The taxpayers groan under the weight of the resulting bill.

And Jon Corzine, who generally displays about as much emotion as a dead flounder, displayed true passion precisely once since taking office: when addressing a rally of public employees, and promising to fight for a "fair" contract. If he meant "fair" in the sense his listeners understood, and his emotion implied, the taxpayers are in trouble, and the union Bosses need not worry.

On one point, though, the hypocrisy alarm sounded. The Bosses wrote:

"...some democratic (sic) leaders in Trenton have set out an agenda that undermines the basic tenets of collective bargaining ... The collective bargaining process must be honored both in fact and in spirit not dictated through legislative action or debated in the media."

OK, fair enough; the terms and conditions of employment, within broad limits, should be the subject of negotiations. So, how about a modest proposal, then, to simply eliminate those benefits and perks established by statute, such as the nine percent pension gift bestowed a few years back? I don’t remember these labor Bosses objecting back then that benefits ought not to be set by statute.

In short, if the Bosses want to bargain, that's great. But, then, they should stop with the political pressure on the Legislature to obtain advantages they cannot win at the bargaining table, and make no objection to the elimination of the benefits thus obtained.