Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh R
why should I be forced to pay that for a gubmit worker.
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Why? For police officers, in California, it’s pretty simple. Supply and demand. California is short 10,000 policemen. It’s a problem to the point that cities are cannibalizing each other.
West Covina PD is paying $12,500 to police officers who will quit their job and come to West Covina. Palo Alto pays $10,000. Anaheim $7,500… Most cities are now paying at least $5,000.
And police salaries are not stagnant. Referring to the May 2008 PORAC Law Enforcement News, I see that Beverly Hills Cops just signed a contract that guarantees that they will ALWAYS be paid at least 1% higher than any other PD in the State. Santa Monica is guaranteed to be the second highest in LA County. Oxnard got a one year 9% raise, Buena Park got 12.5% over 2 years, Montebello got a one year 10%, and Santa Paula got a one year, 8% contract.
Supply and demand.
Fire”fighters” (???) are a dime a dozen, but they are also very clever. They simply point to the police contracts and say, “us too.” And weak city managers defer to weak city councils whom capitulate because they fear negative public opinion drummed up by fire union political action money…