Butcher Headed to Norway, No, It Isn't Permanently
When you consider it takes the City sometimes as much as two weeks (or more) to clean-up trash dumped on the street (UNLESS it happens while the Mayor is out of the country) it looks like LA's municipal services could really use some quality improvement.
With the current economic mess, rising City budget deficit and the lack of quality services, outsourcing a lot of non-public safety related functions to private industry (which could be contractually obligated to provide quality service and rewarded for doing so) would save a ton of money and likely improve services.
It will never happen in LA. Our Mayor, City Attorney, City Controller and all fifteen City Council members are paid for lock, stock and barrell by the public employee unions. Not only would they not outsource but they continue to offer these workers increases in wages that they would not receive in the private sector. That's what's breaking the bank.
At a labor contract meeting over the weekend, Butcher had the following epiphany "Every city worker faces the same issues: dwindling resources against real increasing need; demand for services smack up against real pride in the delivery of good, reliable, fair municipal services, at best coupled with a unique connection to the public we serve."
Maybe while she's there Julie can organize the Vikings.
Labels: Julie Butcher, norway, seiu 721
Posted by Michael Higby @ 11/25/2008 03:00:00 PM
13 Comments:
It's not permanent?
SHIT
Picking up trash is no joke. I work for the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works and I pick up the sofas, cabinets, mattresses, bulky items and miscellaneous trash everyday from public parkways and sidewalks. Because of staffing shortages, I work alone most of the time. Although I don't always agree with Butcher's politics or alliances, I can say that the city workers who do their jobs diligently everyday do take pride in their work, but sometimes have to work under pressure due to increasing budget cuts and personnel shortages. Spending and managing the city's revenue wisely should be an issue that could stand some more scrutiny as opposed to always looking at the "layoff" of employees.
Don't forget that the City gave millions in tax breaks to the entertainment industry and now claims to be millions short.
In January of 2008 they also threatened layoffs if the "Phone Tax" wasn't passed by a vote of the residents. After some door to door campaigning....it passed.
Weeks ago, employees endured an increase in their Kaiser co-payments and an increase in their prescription costs. Millions of dollars were saved. Our reward? More threatened layoffs.
I'd write more about this, but I have to get ready to go to work. Despite all of this, I'm still proud to serve the residents of the greatest City in the world, the City of Los Angeles.
Anon,
First -- THANK YOU FOR THE JOB YOU DO!!!
So....someone can manage SEIU, promote worker pride and represent their interests, and have ethics, too. It's possible. Really.
Too bad Butcher has no idea what ethics means. She and her team lie like rugs and are likely on the take same their higher-ups. They're absolutely pathological.
Butcher may get results, but the ends never justify the means. One would hope that City workers would want someone of moral character representing them.
Butcher's a hack who has never objected to a management proposal to reduce benefits or workforce despite contracting out.
How great that low wage workers can send her to Europe at the holidays to study something completely unrelated to the City of Los Angeles' Employee Relations Ordinance and SEIU's MOUs.
My guess, Butcher's being sent into hiding while the mess she's created is solved by an outside law firm.
Wasting more dues money. Can't she spend enough in the states? Well, maybe they'll keep her and do us all in LA, CA a favor.
Is she for REAL??? NORWAY? Which local is she charging her VC to this year?
As Annelle would say, "Oh horseshit! We can do whatever we want!"
Julie's role has changed dramatically, since Local 347 was placed into emergency trusteeship earlier this year. She is now taking orders, instead of giving them. Local 721 is not currently a member driven union, and everyone, down to the last committee member, is an appointed person loyal to Andy Stern's "vision". There is a major battle, looming on the horizon, over control of 721. As the kinks get worked out over the merger, it has become clear that the priority was to merge the members money, first, and worry about the members later.
Does the United States have an extradition pact with Norway?
Don't go away mad Butch, just go away!
Now we know why she's out of the country:
SEIU 721 Meeting
Thursday December 4 @ 6p
500 S. Virgil
How lame is that...
Screws
Employees
Income
Unilaterally
Mr Higby, Their members are probably ALL Rejoicing! City of LA SEIU Members are unhappy with Local 721 so maybe her going away will cheer them up.
What a nice vacation their dues are funding. Will the dues have to increase to cover the cost of all the traveling?
Did she take the union credit card, Rickman and Annelle with her? Maybe skis? Her bunny suit? Anything else? Oops, I think I just heard someone throw up!
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