DPS Sickout Judged Not a Strike

[Mark Smiles]

Let the teachers strike, let the cops strike, let the firemen and liberians go out on strike. I have no problem with this at all. All I want is for it to be fair. Let both sides walk away from the table. On one side of the table is the government an it's employees and on the other side is the taxpayers. Once the government and its employees stop serving the customers, let the customers step away from the table also. This means immediately stop collecting any and cancel all taxes that went towards paying the striking employees. When the government and its employees settle their strike, the customers can then decide if they want to resume paying taxes or not. This is no different than say the UAW striking an automaker. Customers can decide after the strike if the service or product offered by the automaker is a good value or not. So yeah, let government workers strike and let's be fair and let the customers decide if they want back after the strike.

[Wesley Mouch]

Let the teachers strike, let the cops strike, let the firemen and liberians go out on strike. I have no problem with this at all. All I want is for it to be fair. Let both sides walk away from the table. On one side of the table is the government an it's employees and on the other side is the taxpayers. Once the government and its employees stop serving the customers, let the customers step away from the table also. This means immediately stop collecting any and cancel all taxes that went towards paying the striking employees. When the government and its employees settle their strike, the customers can then decide if they want to resume paying taxes or not. This is no different than say the UAW striking an automaker. Customers can decide after the strike if the service or product offered by the automaker is a good value or not. So yeah, let government workers strike and let's be fair and let the customers decide if they want back after the strike.

Great idea!

I have always thought that sunlight is the best disinfectant. Each public sector union should have the cost of their wages and benefits* itemized on an online statement delivered with their tax bill, letting the citizens know what the actual total and per head cost is for each bargaining unit. Good police and fire, for example, cost a lot of money. But it should be an informed taxpayer decision.

* including accrued benefits under a standardized calculation developed by accountants, not politicians.

Mark, the only amendment to your plan I'd suggest is that no retroactive pay be allowed. Otherwise, as you see often, the cost of the wages during the strike are simply paid back by the government, so as to not harm the workers in any way. If there's no harm to either side, then there's no fair negotiation with the taxpayers.

Strike away!

[jt1]

Wow, this thread is already on track to set a record amount of idiotic concepts on DetroitYes.