One of my grandfathers was a cop. (The other played the bagpipes, which, on reflection, is the musical equivalent of what I do as an editorial writer: making loud, annoying noise that nonetheless can sometimes be stirring.) And while a mutant family gene eventually produced more MBAs and Republicans than cops, an allegiance to the working man and labor issues is in my DNA.
That said, I’ve been wondering for the last few months why we are content to accept one of the basic tenets of labor negotiations : secrecy.
The city contracts currently being negotiated include municipal unions; police and fire contracts are left up to an arbitrator. All these jobs are paid with public money. So why isn’t the public more involved and informed about what’s at stake? Why do we accept the informational black out, and not question the culture of back room deals that usually characterize these things?
Salaries and benefits represent a stunning 60 percent of the city’s budget; that’s doesn’t even include the $450 million the city paid into the pension fund. At what point will every cent of our tax dollars go to paying the city workforce?
Instead of open discussions about what the issues are and what the options are, we have mystery theatre: labor gets onstage and paints itself as exploited victims and threatening strikes, and the city paints itself as a most generous and impoverished employer.
Recently, the city delivered a health care proposal for labor that would convert the individual health plans of each union into a single plan under which the city would self-insure. We’ve been asking for details of this plan for over a week. How would it work? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of self-insurance? And we’ve gotten nothing.
What’s the big secret? Typically, the standard for sunshine laws – those laws that regulate when meetings must be open—draw the line at employment information, deeming it too sensitive. We’re not interested in compromising the privacy of individual workers, but we don’t understand why this latest health proposal—as well as others in play as these negotiations drag on -- aren’t for public consumption. At the very least, this information – on salaries, bonuses, health care coverage and pension payments have direct impact on the city budget – and should be a topic for conversation. How do these benefits stack up against workers in the private sector? How efficient is the current system of individual health plans for each union? Do cities that don’t have union workforces fare any better or worse on key factors like delivery of services?
Why isn’t their more sunlight on this topic? Of course, we know what the real answer is: both sides might lose some leverage as they enact these ancient rites of labor negotiations. But it’s time to ask: have those ancient rites served us or defeated us?
Imagine the alternative: both city and unions being frank and open with what their issues are, with the public fully informed of the issues at hand and what is at stake. (How the public gets informed could include interesting possibilities: a watchdog group who sits in on negotiations, or even (gasp) having them televised.) I’m willing to wager that at the end of the day, the results of this would not differ much from what we have now. We’d just have a more honest sense of how we got there.
Sandy, don't be to quick to jump on the city's health care proposal to put all city employees into one plan to be managed by the city. In the 1970's, the city had just that. There was one awful Blue Cross - Blue Shield Plan. The police and firemen started the Police and Fire Medical Association (clinic) because the BC/BS product was so bad. The city contributed the same amount to the PFMA. In the 1980's, the unions went to the city and told them, "give us the same amount of money per employee that you are currently spending and we will administer the health programs for you at no additional charge." The city couldn't give it to the unions fast enough. Guess what, from personal knowlege, the police officers and firefighters went from the worse BC/BS plans to one of the best health care programs going. Now we want to go backwards? Given the city's propensity for running things into the ground, I fervently hope not. The politicians can't wait to get their hands back on this money in order to hand out contracts to those that contribute to their political campaigns. Health care for city employees will once again become a fiasco. BTW, how much is the city paying Sharron Farmer and her law firm????— Smokey- Smokey, You make some good points. But aside from the fact that health care plans and coverage have changed considerably since the 1970s, the questions your post raises include: What's a "good" health care plan? What's a bad one? How do you measure: by the health of the workers, or by how expensive it is? To me, a top of the line plan allows you to see any doctor you need, at any time, with any procedure you need approved without question, for your lifetime. And no copay. Most people would agree that that's a dream. Is that what the unions have now? And if so, do they realize they are in a very small minority in the world? I think it's a goal worth reaching for, but it's not sustainable, at least given the current system. But my point is, why shouldn't we all be talking about this, and why can't we all be fully informed not only about the current plans, but what else is possible?— sandyshea
- sandy, the constant call for transparency from newspapers grows tiresome. like sausage, i believe that we dont have to see whats inside or how its made as long as we like the results. we elected nutter to do the right thing, we shouldnt have the opportunity to second guess every step he takes. let him negotiate in secret as others have done because eventually he will have to compromise, and hopefully that compromise will be better than what others have done in the past. i would much prefer a better final result with no transparency - wouldnt you?— rabbit23
- How dare you equate your editorials with bagpipes. Bagpipes have a LONG tradition of fine music and cultural contributions. Your editorials on the other hand ... never mind. ......transparency. That's a nice word. You and your colleagues would need to read and report the information that is currently available. Smokey presents the city's historical mismanagement of the H&W funds. The current Pew report reflects the ongoing mismanagement of these funds for non-union employees. Your earlier reporting on this issue, since it failed to include these costs from the PEW report, was incomplete and therefore inaccurate, contributed to the obfuscation of this costly issue and belies your claims to any DNA from the working class. Your disingenuous desire for transparency on this must be because nobody else wrote the content so you could express an opinion whether yours or Tierney's.— nebulus
- Did you ever try to get a room full of people to agree on anything? It's not pretty. And now you propose to have 2.5 million people in on the negotiations??? How about a little transparency on what news is "fit to be print"?— Phillybilly
- Sandy, It's a good point. Given the fact that labor and associated costs are such a huge portion of the budget, the public certainly should have a say in how this goes down. While it's unpleasant, rollbacks in salary should not be off the table with the current revenue situation. Certainly, given what's happened to everyone else's retirement packages, I don't think reduced pensions or phasing in defined contribution plans should be off the table either (although I know the latter has no chance of happening).— Scholes
- Transparency is intrinsically valuable to the whole. It's a democratic value. Anyone who says to just "trust our great leader to decide for us" belongs in Mao's China.— CleanupPhilly
- I, as a taxpayer, have a right to know. It's not optional, it's a legal requirement. Why do Philly pols have such a hard time with Sunshine laws, openness, and FOIA? The rest of the Democratized West is OK with it.— CleanupPhilly
- The police and fire arbitration hearings are open to the public. You can go anytime. The police hearings are over. How many times did the press attend?????— jn3
- Opaque contract negotiations that are closed to the people who pay, the taxpayer, are just one more reason Harrisburg should not reward the Philly status quo with a state personal income tax hike, a job-killing sales tax hike, or a pension refi/payment delay. We need to know, or just say NO: http://www.stoppataxhike.com/— CleanupPhilly
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Anyone could attend the polie arbitration. The dates were published. I went to several. I don't know if the press was there. How much more open could it be?— sportsnutz
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