Mayor Asks Employees To Give Up Raises
Published: January 14, 2009
Updated: January 15, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio —Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman is asking city employees from five city unions, including police and firefighters to give up their pay raises for 2009.
In a letter to unions on Wednesday, Coleman detailed his need to cut $13 million in order to balance the city’s budget. He said it’s the only way he can avoid more layoffs and service cuts.
In addition to pay raises, the mayor is asking employees to give up their service credit pay for the numbers of years they’ve worked for the city.
Fraternal Order of Police Jim Gilbert said the mayor’s request is unacceptable.
“He wants us to reply to him within the next nine days. The contract team, we are currently in negotiations with the city negotiating our next contract. We’ve been at the table several months now with the city and now the mayor is calling for immediate action and this is completely unacceptable with how we have negotiated in the past with the city,“ Gilbert said.
Coleman said the only way he can avoid more layoffs and service cuts is to have employees sacrifice salaries.
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Reader Reactions
One last complaint I would like to make goes to the “City employee”. Police Officer’s don’t get their sick leave cashed out each year. Please do your research before making incorrect posts. And to the White Castle comment, my question is what are you doing there all day? Our officer’s put up with enough crap dealing with people wanting to run from them and fight with them. Lets ask the officer who was recently shot in the face protecting our city, do you think police make enough money. Or better yet why don’t critics of police strap on a belt and uniform and “Try” and do a better job than the officer’s serving us, “the citizens”.
I am amazed that people who do not go out on a daily basis and risk their lives for the “Fine” citizens of Columbus have the nerve to comment on whether or not the police deserve a raise. We need to be supporting our officer’s and worrying about the more than 300 retirements they will suffer by 2011. Those officer’s should not have to give up their longevity either.
it would be interesting to see what the mayor’s staff makes per hour and see the impact that has on the budget. I think everyone would be surprised.
Whatever, Quit sitting at White Castle all day and do some real work!
I agree 100% that yes the raises should be frozen, AND IM A CITY EMPLOYEE! I want to keep my job, keeping what Im making now rather then ending up on un-employment and making less is a much better option, FULL TIME employees do get longevity pay and sick leave reciprocity (if they have any sick leave left at the end of year and choose to take that money rather then bank there time) which equals a hefty benefit pkg each year
My husband didn’t get a pay raise in 2008 and has already been told to not expect one in 2009, in fact they are saying they may have to take a paycut. We don’t like it, but we know that compared to a lot of others he is just lucky to be getting a full 40 hour work week. In fact, their overtime is kicking in right now, so if that keeps up they won’t need to do a paycut and may even get that raise. But, the guys all understand (that doesn’t mean they like it) that sometimes you got to make some sacrifices to keep the company afloat.
It’s better to have a job making the same amount of monies than to have no job and not be able to pay the mortgage and buy food. Look at the hundred of thousands of Americans that are in the boat with no job and beside that this recession can’t last forever.
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