Editorial

State can't afford firefighters' pay raise

THE state and county governments have gotten themselves into quite a fix over a pay raise for firefighters. A panel of arbitrators has awarded the firefighters a 7.2 percent pay increase. Governor Cayetano says there is no way the state can afford it, and the county mayors agree. So do we. They also fear that acceptance of such a raise would encourage other government employees to seek similar raises.

But this is supposedly binding arbitration, meaning that the parties must accept the decision. The award reportedly was so high because the arbitrators were required to choose between the government's offer of no increase and the union's proposal. They weren't allowed to compromise.

Government officials say that although the governor and mayors are bound by the decision, the Legislature and county councils aren't. And if they reject it, they can place the issue back on the negotiating table. The governor and the mayors are expected to recommend rejection.

There really is no alternative. At a time when state and county jobs are being cut to save money, it would make no sense to award pay raises, particularly such bigones.

The law should be changed. Binding arbitration is unacceptable when the government can't afford to pay more.





Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited Partnership

Rupert E. Phillips,CEO

John M. Flanagan,Editor & Publisher

David Shapiro,Managing Editor

Diane Yukihiro Chang,Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor

Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner,Assistant Managing Editors

A.A. Smyser,Contributing Editor



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