So here I am at work on my lunch break, reading a wonderful post on Blogstream from Six Foot Blond (Venus Vexed). On her blog, she tells the story of reuniting with a man she had met over twenty years ago. The story itself would make for a great movie script. Anyway, after reading this heartwarming post, I go to make a comment. And damn if there wasn't a power surge, making the power go off!
Don't you just hate it when that happens! That was last week. As for Six, thank you for writing such a great post. My kind comments to you are floating around somewhere in cyberspace.
Since it is September, that usually happens here around this time of year. With the thunderstorms, the heat and humidity, and everyone running their air conditioning, that usually happens. Also around this time of year comes the month of October. And that is when all of the city employees get a raise. This year, we were to get a three percent raise from a contract we voted on a few years back. This year, however, is going to be different.
Recently, the city approached the unions that represent its employees and asked them to reopen the contract for negotiations. The proposed contract calls for NO raise this year, NO raise next year, and a three percent raise in October, 2012. If we accept this, the city will continue to pay one hundred percent of our medical insurance. If we turn this proposal down, we will get the three percent we originally voted on, but the city will pass some of the costs of the medical insurance, which is provided by United Health Care, onto its employees. So my question is, would you take no raise and have your medical insurance paid for full? Or would you take the raise, only to pay more for medical insurance?
This is what I have been having to deal with over the summer. With the economy and the tax base the way it is, the city has had to make cuts in its budget for the new year. Since May, the city has been looking at ways to cut the budget. That includes voluntary seperation and lay offs. As a matter of fact, I found out this morning that twenty-nine employees from management were let go. There have also been layoffs that will go into effect on October 1. And if the new contract is not approved, there will be an additional seventeen layoffs. If approved, however, those seventeen positions will be saved, and layoffs will take effect before the start of the next fiscal year, which would be October, 2011.
All city employees will vote on the new contract this Friday. I have a feeling it will pass. Recently, many companies have been passing health care costs onto it employees since premiums are high. I am not happy about not getting a raise, but I would rather be still employed and have ALL of my medical paid for. It is a tough decision to make, but decisions have to be made in these tough times.
As for me, I am fine. But I am in the middle of my twenty-fifth year. After I have completed twenty-five years, I am eligible for full pension and medical. I am getting the feeling that after I reach twenty-five years of service, I may be asked to consider leaving, perhaps through a buyout.
Well, lunchtime is over. Time for me to go back to work. I better sign off before another power surge happens. Take care, and I will let you know what the outcome of the vote is on Friday.
