Hub Mayor To Unions: Help Save Jobs
Worker Layoffs Expected Without Wage Freeze
POSTED: 8:53 am EST March 4, 2009
UPDATED: 9:03 am EST March 4, 2009
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BOSTON -- Hundreds of Boston city workers could soon be off the job but the mayor said they have the power to prevent those layoffs.
VideoNewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that Boston Mayor Tom Menino said the only way to prevent layoffs is if city worker unions agree to a one-year wage freeze and he's set a deadline of March 15 for an answer on his proposal.The city has a large budget gap, amounting to more than $131 million. Menino is lobbying the city's 44 employee unions to agree to the wage freezes. Only five unions have agreed to the plan so far."Even with agreements from the unions -- let me make this perfectly clear -- there will be some layoffs in city government," Menino said.The city's police union has not agreed to the wage freeze, nor has the teachers' union, which is made up of about 7,000 teachers.There are 17,000 Boston employees protected by various unions and Menino said if all of them agreed to the proposal, 900 jobs could be spared and about $55 million would be saved.
VideoNewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that Boston Mayor Tom Menino said the only way to prevent layoffs is if city worker unions agree to a one-year wage freeze and he's set a deadline of March 15 for an answer on his proposal.The city has a large budget gap, amounting to more than $131 million. Menino is lobbying the city's 44 employee unions to agree to the wage freezes. Only five unions have agreed to the plan so far."Even with agreements from the unions -- let me make this perfectly clear -- there will be some layoffs in city government," Menino said.The city's police union has not agreed to the wage freeze, nor has the teachers' union, which is made up of about 7,000 teachers.There are 17,000 Boston employees protected by various unions and Menino said if all of them agreed to the proposal, 900 jobs could be spared and about $55 million would be saved.Copyright 2009 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
