From the office of Del. Mary-Dulany James:
Friends,
Please make sure you fill out the survey towards the bottom of this email!
While the snow was piling up around the state we kept working hard in Annapolis. I hope all of you stayed safe and continue to be careful as crews work to the clear the roads. As our Governor said yesterday, it will be several days before we see pavement in all areas and weeks before the snow piles on the side of the roads are gone. Please be mindful as you travel and continue to check on your elderly neighbors.
I know there has been some frustration with snow removal in both Harford and Cecil Counties. I am confident that State Highway has been doing everything they can to clear the major highways and state roads. Most residential areas are on county roads; if your street has not been cleared please contact the County. For Harford the number to call is (410)638-3532 and in Cecil the number is (410)996-6270.
The bill hearing for my legislation regarding gangs was this week. I shared with the House Judiciary Committee the need for more comprehensive gang legislation as we try to combat a problem that affects our children and our communities. I am looking forward to the hearing on the other gang bill I am sponsoring and hope that I can email you the news of a victory later this session.
This session there have been several bills introduced dealing with collective bargaining. The bills address binding arbitration for local police, EMS workers, librarians and school employees. I would like to know how you feel about collective bargaining; particularly the proposed binding arbitration which would put decisions in the hands of a third party that is not necessarily from your community. This removes decisions about salaries paid for by taxpayer dollars from you and the people you elect. Please click here to go to a survey about this important issue.
Some background information for the survey:
There are three types of collective bargaining.
Mediation: a non-biased third-party facilitates disputes and
discussions between an employer and employee.Non-Binding Arbitration: A non-biased third-party makes recommendations to the employer based on a complaint or question of the employee
Binding Arbitration: A non-biased third party makes decisions that are final regarding things such as salary and workplace conditions.
It seems that “public servants” are looking for all the benefits of a risk averse position but are being unrealistic about salaries and benefits that are expected to compete with the less stable private sector. This is a trend that needs a course correction even in the best of times. For at least the next few years, everyone (including legislators) needs to give back to the municipalities that have been so good to them in the recent past.
I also strongly support merit pay but realize that this has it’s pitfalls. Mostly, it would well serve us all to stop groups that shelter under-performers. It’s a poison the disrespects and de-motivates dedicated staff as well as the public.
I am totally against binding arbitration. Where would the due process for the taxpayers be? Who would be our voice? To allow some “outsider” come in an dictate to our elected officials that our taxes need to be raised to cover some fat-belly “public” servant is just ridiculous. Times are tough all over and just because your’re a public employee doesn’t mean you should get everything you want.
Collective Bargining/Binding Arbitration = HIGHER TAXES
Just say no to public sector unions. Allow people to vote for those who would give them a raise? Are you kidding me?