Inflexible unions

Sep 19, 2009 2 min read

To the editor:

I have been a businessman, property owner and taxpayer in Cape Coral for 35 years. My family has benefited from the city’s tremendous growth. Now, in the grips of a severe recession, Cape Coral is one of the hardest-hit communities in the nation. Citizens are suffering. Surviving businesses are laying off and cutting costs. “Doing more with less” is reality, not choice.

I was disappointed and angry when I read the city’s unions refused to consider a shortened work week. This refusal is a shortsighted and selfish disservice to taxpayers. Everyone else is in the sacrifice and survival mode, are unions exempt? Healthy survival of the Cape is dependent upon the sound business decisions of governing agencies, not blind stubbornness.

The recent primary sent a loud message to city Council. Reciting one candidate’s slogan, “have you had enough yet?” Citizens are demanding decreased spending and reduced property taxes. The same message should be delivered to our unions. Unions represent a large share of the budget; they are integral to any cost-cutting efforts and must cooperate.

By refusing to reduce hours the unions are forcing council’s hand. There is no alternative but to cut jobs. Unions represent all of their members; not making hourly concessions will leave some unemployed. This is not the time for the unions to make a stubborn stand. Cape Coral is struggling for survival and the unions need to drop their inflexible stand for the good of all.

Lynn Kirby

Cape Coral