This morning's Northwest Herald reports on federal mediation between the McHenry County government and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
The County has already lost, but it doesn't know it (apparently). How do I know this?
Read the first sentence in the article: "The McHenry County Board is extending its second take-it-or leave-it contract in as many weeks..."
The mediator must have been laughing all week-end.
You never make a second take-it-or-leave-it offer. You have just completely blown your credibility and your bargaining power. Your adversary knows you are weak.
Further, what in the heck is the federal mediator doing for his big bucks? "County officials say they have reached an impasse with the union after three sessions with a federal mediator."
Is the mediator just keeping the peace? Or is he (or she) there to mediate a settlement?
The mediator should put the bargaining powers in a room, lock the door and tell them to stop acting like children and make a deal. One bathroom break in the morning; one in the afternoon; one in the evening. Make it 12-16 hour sessions. Veggies for lunch. Did the parties agree to a mediator who can't get that job done?
Will the SEIU strike the Animal Control office? And then the sympathetic coroners will go out?
Imagine the smell on Virginia Road in Crystal Lake. Who will feed and care for the animals?
Here's an idea. How about inmates from the County Jail? They'll work a lot cheaper than the Animal Control union employees. Sheriff Joe Arpaio tried it; it worked. It'll work here, too.
You never know who is interested…
3 months ago
4 comments:
Sharpen up your reading comprehension skills, Gus. The second "take it or leave it" refers to TWO SEPARATE CONTRACTS, which involves TWO DIFFERENT board committees negotiating with SEIU. One contract is for the Animal Control workers and and the other is for the Deputy Coroners. Both committees offered the SEIU the same thing and said "take it or leave it." No back pedaling YET.
Good question relative to "peace keeper," vs. "peace maker." There's a major difference between the two. "Peace keepers" just smooth things over without ever really acknowledging and working through conflict, which is a REALLY bad precedent to set in any human organization, e.g., churches, schools, companies, etc., but even more deadly to adult relationships. But, I digressed... "Federal mediator" suggests one who deals more in refereeing, as opposed to demonstrating actual negotiation or "peace-making" skills. Welcome to the wonderful world of unions!
When I was younger and much less informed I worried about our relations with other world powers like the Soviet Union which for practical purposes has renamed itself Russia but still is a threat to us and the rest of the world. I think the viability of the United States is much more threatened by large unions whose leadership is infiltrated by Marxists, Communists and Progressives not to mention organized crime. Unless they are checked and limited they will eventually destroy this country. Beware the rot from within!
Dear Doctor,
The fight you describe has been over for some time. Russia, the unions, communists, marxists, etc. It has been replaced by the plutocrats v. the rest of us.
The fight now is between the hedge fund managers who "earned" over 60 million each, and the multinational corporations that now have the right to buy elections.
Generally, I deeply respect your opinion, however here I am befuddled. How could you miss this? How could you not know this?
I mean, WOW? Your view here is so thirty to fifty years ago. The playing field changed dramatically and how could you have missed it?
Those groups you mentioned are not going to destroy this country, (their power has been more than mitigated), this country has already been bought by the other.
Catch up please.
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