Under normal circumstances we would expect there to be this conversation. Faced with a pay freeze, public unions would tell their employer it’s not acceptable. Not even close. No way. The municipal employer, in this case the City of Tampa, would point to budget constraints, which are not exactly rare. Both sides would rhetorically dig in, and some sort of compromise, including the face-saving variety, would result.
But there’s nothing normal about these times. It can’t be business as usual when you’re in the midst of the worst economic downturn in three generations.
Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio has already presided over more than $40 million in budget cuts the last two years. But more positions than employees were affected. Benefits and raises went untouched. But now the 2010 budget has a shortfall of more than $50 million. The city can’t drain all its reserves and undermine borrowing ability, and it can’t compromise necessary services. Something has to give. And go. That means raises. City worker raises. And that includes firefighters and police. And, yes, those (annual) step raises.
This is understandably touchy. But this is not about appreciation or respect. It’s just not understandable — or even good governmental stewardship — to not freeze raises of all city employees.
It’s called taking one for the team. It’s called doing the right thing. It’s also called helping save fellow employees’ jobs. Talk about a benevolent association.