Yesterday, contract negotiations continued with the county. We were not surprised with the offer of furlough days to mitigate layoffs until the end of the fiscal year. At the public hearings during the last two weeks, it was clear that the furlough idea was the panacea for our fiscal crisis according to some of the Commissioners. We did not respond warmly to this proposal because it provides no protection to the membership beginning 12/1/2011 and is most certainly a slippery slope. Stay updated on news regarding this topic by signing up for our email bursts (flash messages) by emailing board@cookcountypd.org. Sorry, members only and you must send us your personal email, not county email address.
Everyone should remember that the county itself projected back in the fall of 2009 that the county would have a revenue shortfall of $200 million due to the roll back of the half penny sales tax introduced by the Stroger administration. My question is: Whatever happened to the claim by many Commissioners that revenues would INCREASE when the “highest sales tax in the country” was lowered? Where’s the money now? How does the Civic Federation address that? I bet they think revenues will not increase till the whole penny is gone. Sure.
On another very important note, I want to thank all the brothers and sisters who showed their support for collective bargaining by traveling to Wisconsin last weekend. Governor Walker has truly touched a nerve and citizens have shown up by the thousands to protest his full scale assault on the right to collectively bargain. In addition, your executive board is sending financial support to the affected locals so they can continue to fight the good fight. If you would like to add to our contribution, click here.
In Solidarity,
K. S. Galhotra
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