Union needs lesson in shared sacrifice
One wonders what planet the members of the Glendale Police Officers Assn. have been living on recently (“Police union won’t budge,” Weekend).
Their decision to not consider reopening talks on their contract is incomprehensible to say the least.
I wonder if they’ve ever heard of the words “shared sacrifice.” Apparently not.
JOHN STEELE
Glendale
Disappointed with the police union
As a longtime admirer of the Glendale police force, I was disappointed to read in the Weekend edition of the Glendale News-Press that the Glendale Police Officers Assn. had rejected pay concessions to help close the city’s $9.7-million budget gap for the fiscal year beginning July 2009 (“Police union won’t budge”).
The police association’s decision to insist on a previously negotiated 6% pay increase will likely lead to the elimination of valuable police programs and to layoffs of sworn police officers.
Meanwhile, other city employees have agreed to forgo pay raises this year in order to prevent precisely this type of damage to their departments and to the services they provide.
At a time when thousands of people are losing their jobs every week and numerous others are wrestling with the effects of brutal losses in their investments, it is disheartening to find that one sector of our city employees is unwilling to share in the sacrifices that other public employees have agreed to make.
Obviously the decision by the police association, which, I assume, many officers regret, will do nothing to dispel the long-held popular perception that an aura of arrogance and elitism clings to the police forces of many communities in our state (although we would like to think the police in our community are different).
Also, this decision, if it is not reversed, is certain to complicate the association’s position in future contract negotiations with the city.
GERRY RANKIN
Glendale
More people should fly Stars and Stripes
Like my friend and neighbor, Joe Mandoky, I display an American flag on events like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July (“It’s important to let Old Glory fly,” Weekend). This flag was draped over my father’s casket and given to me at his burial. He was a World War II vet.
