The James Squires arbitration ruling, as infuriating as it is to many city taxpayers, has far less to do with the amount of money Squires himself will collect than the general state of employment contracts that are far too generous to workers.
Squires is a retiree of the Plattsburgh Fire Department, 15 years as chief. After his retirement in 2007, he put in for $115,000 as a one-time payment for accrued benefits. That was in addition to his regular, monthly retirement pay.
Most people who retire are fortunate to be able to collect a regular check, company-paid retirement plans becoming a rarity in the private sector these days. Some impressive companies, such as IBM, have terminated retirement plans altogether. Some that didn't, such as General Motors, are fighting for their lives.
The Plattsburgh Fire Department has for years been a lightning rod for conflict over its contracts. Critics have railed about the attractive hours firefighters are able to work, as well as the contract provision that members can accumulate vacation and sick leave to redeem for a hefty check at retirement. For decades, certain members of the Common Council have tried to devise ways to bring those provisions closer to those that private businesses and industries offer.
Those council members have seized upon such retirements as Squires's to make their point that the taxpayers are getting gouged.
In response, the union has contended that firefighting is a dangerous job and that their expertise, along with staffing the city ambulance, provides city residents a level of comfort and security that amply earns the benefits.
There are other considerations at work here, of course. For years, the public had to pay better benefits to compete with what was then higher pay enjoyed in private industry. Little by little, states, municipalities and school districts were able to raise salaries to comparable levels.
Another factor over the years is that executives and members of municipal councils have been eager to court the union vote for political support. Sometimes, promises have been made that did not necessarily redound to the advantage of the taxpayers.
In the case of Squires, which is a good example for the critics, the City of Plattsburgh must pay $73,045 just to watch him walk out the door. Undoubtedly, he would say he accumulated that money under terms of a contract that were fully understood at the time he was working. He would be right. But that doesn't make the payment any less objectionable to people who have to pay the bills or who retire with no more than a small, monthly check to look forward to, especially in this period of economic misery for so many.
What it says that seems beyond dispute is that changes need to be made in the benefits municipal employees are granted. Cities such as Plattsburgh can't afford to give out $73,000 every time somebody retires.
Contract negotiators need to take a hard stand on that.
Opinion
June 29, 2009
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