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In the latest example of a cash-strapped municipality taking drastic measures to deal with swollen public sector liabilities and shrinking budgets, the city plans to disband its 460-member police department and replace it with a non-union “Metro Division” of the Camden County Police. Backers of the plan say it will save millions of dollars for taxpayers while ensuring public safety, but police unions say it is simply a way to get out of collective bargaining with the men and women in blue.
Camden County Mayor Dana Redd has said layoffs of the city’s police force will begin by the end of the month. Only 49 percent of current city police officers will be transferred to the new county division, whose members will begin a four- to five-month training program.
Sourc e
“A county police force that has a reasonable contract, and that’s going to provide a huge increase in the number of police officers on the streets here in Camden, is a win for everybody,” Christie said at a recent event at Rutgers-Camden University, where he signed a reform bill for higher education. “I’m willing to put my name on the line for this concept.”
Originally posted by VaterOrlaag
reply to post by Wrabbit2000
Therefore, you can't blame this on union labor as you'd so desperately like to do.
Originally posted by cloaked4u
This is totally crazy. The police might want to protest by not working for a month and see what happens next.
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
This is shocking and just outrageous. Everyone probably knows my stance on Public Sector Unions.
HOWEVER...... There are ways to address that problem. if the nation comes to agree with the side I'm standing on and we all choose to change that, AS a nation. Even if the change is CHOSEN at a more local level, it's got to happen in a controlled and proper way. There again, only after the majority of citizens whom the decision will most directly effect have voted or otherwise shown the consensus to remove Unions from public sector areas.
THIS is NOT the way to do that! This is insanity!
In the latest example of a cash-strapped municipality taking drastic measures to deal with swollen public sector liabilities and shrinking budgets, the city plans to disband its 460-member police department and replace it with a non-union “Metro Division” of the Camden County Police. Backers of the plan say it will save millions of dollars for taxpayers while ensuring public safety, but police unions say it is simply a way to get out of collective bargaining with the men and women in blue.
Not shocking this a Mayor that knows these public sector unions require individuals to work double shifts, avg one per week, and drives up the cost of over time enormously. All police departments, private security firms"paid by local and federal govermants, corrections facilities across the country do it. Its why most budgets are 50% or more for judical period
This isn't removing the Unions from the public sector by deliberate choice and careful process. This is the deciding of a few Politicians and doing it in a catastrophic way!
Camden County Mayor Dana Redd has said layoffs of the city’s police force will begin by the end of the month. Only 49 percent of current city police officers will be transferred to the new county division, whose members will begin a four- to five-month training program.
As another part of the article states, the above means that those getting axed in the end will be required to help train their replacements. Some 51% by the above figure won't be invited to keep their job after the transition to non-union police.
Sourc e
“A county police force that has a reasonable contract, and that’s going to provide a huge increase in the number of police officers on the streets here in Camden, is a win for everybody,” Christie said at a recent event at Rutgers-Camden University, where he signed a reform bill for higher education. “I’m willing to put my name on the line for this concept.”
This last part sounds great but it'll be the first time I've ever seen such a drastic and desparation move produce ANYTHING positive for long term results. Camden is not the city to be experimenting and trying new things with, IMO. Their crime rates are nothing to laugh at by any means.
Total 2012 crime stats there figure out to 16 crimes per day, every day, 365/year. This is a city of 77,000 people. Politics aside, the destruction by budgetary move is just stupid on steroids.
Are they really suggesting that NO other program, efforts or costs in the whole city budget can be trimmed? Every non-essential or non-safety related line item, to the dollar has been cut? I feel that is where a city should be before making ANY cuts or fundamental changes to Fire or Police. Those two services are not just another budget item. People DIE if those two aren't properly funded, handled and staffed by people who know what they are doing.
Look at the Empire State Building shootings for an example and what a great idea this is to keep 49% experienced cops and 51% new replacements. Surely ALL won't be rookies, but that really is beside the point, IMO. I sure worry for the people of Camden.
What say everyone? Good move or Crazytown?
Originally posted by bigfatfurrytexan
reply to post by Wrabbit2000
Perhaps you have a better plan. Regardless, unions are an evil that is no longer necessary. They are damaging the economy by not allowing workforce to flux with market. It makes it to where only larger companies, with larger workforces, can actually flex efficiently enough to staff appropriately to market.
Even more, it drives the cost of sales higher, which we all see as an increase in price.
There was a time when workers in union with each other benefitted everyone. But "the union" is a beast that was, or at least should have, not meant to be.
If you want to lower crime, create a smart way to arm the citizens in a legal manner. Would you go crawling through a window looking for loot if you knew they were armed?
I worded my Op badly because I definitely didn't present the side I had intended.
Perhaps you have a better plan. Regardless, unions are an evil that is no longer necessary. They are damaging the economy by not allowing workforce to flux with market. It makes it to where only larger companies, with larger workforces, can actually flex efficiently enough to staff appropriately to market.
Originally posted by bigfatfurrytexan
reply to post by Wrabbit2000
Regardless, unions are an evil that is no longer necessary.
Originally posted by bigfatfurrytexan
reply to post by PrinceDreamer
Unions, way back before WWII, were a useful entity. But once the market became more competitive as globalization has occured, businesses started seeing employees as resources and began to invest in maximizing the production of that resource. Ever since that happened, unions have been a needless and costly redundancy.
Now a days unions make all manner of demands that actually drive costs and distort the market.
What makes me the angriest is that if, as an employer, you choose to not join a union you often will not be allowed to work. Union membership is a requirement of employment. I am of the opinion that the only things that employers should be doing paycheck deductions for are insurance, taxes, and garnishments by lawful order.