They have gone too far this time — now it’s not 1,000 or 2,000 or even the mayor’s 3,000 layoffs.
It’s 4,000 — fully one-third of the narrow band of the 12,000 workers who they have deemed eligible for job eliminations
The other 40,000 city workers are exempted because they are in public safety, health and other social services or work for the Harbor, Airport or DWP.
We spent billions for libraries and parks, pay through the teeth for everything we get and now we will get nothing at all.
Wall Street says they must act to borrow the billions they need to get through this year and next so they have to gut the heart of the city.
They had their chance back in June when they knew the Early Retirement Incentive Program for 2,400 senior staffers was unaffordable but they gave the unions what they wanted.
They had their chance in October when they gave the unions all the power in exchange for concessions they didn’t even get them through December?
They balked at 1,000 layoffs so the mayor pretended he had the power to order them. So they figured out how to transfer most of those workers to payrolls that got them off the general fund.
He upped the ante to 2,000 then 3,000 layoffs and the unions said they had a four-month-old contract that protected them.
So the Council one-upped the mayor on Thursday and took it to 4,000 in a back room meeting and tried to squelch all debate. No study, no public discussion, no rhyme or reason except to bluff the unions back to the bargaining table in hopes they will make more concessions.
Fat chance. It’s a game of bluff and we will all lose. Those responsible must pay the price.
r