Unions, Scranton clash over minimum wage pay cuts

[longnecker]

• (CBS News) SCRANTON, Pa. - Unions representing workers in the northeastern Pennsylvania city of Scranton expect to file a federal lawsuit against the city after the mayor abruptly cut their pay to minimum wage.

The attorney for three unions, including firefighters and police, said he expects to file several legal actions, including a motion to hold Mayor Chris Doherty in contempt of court for violating a judge's order to pay full wages.
"We've been busy," said attorney Thomas Jennings. "So much nonsense. [It's] really, really silly that we have to do something like this just to get paid."
Scranton, Pa.: We don't have money to pay workers
Doherty last week cut the pay for about 400 employees to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. He says it was the only way for the cash-strapped city to pay bills, and promises to restore pay once finances are stabilized, according to the Scranton Times-Tribune.
On Friday Lackawanna County Judge Michael Barrasse held a hearing and ordered an injunction to unions challenging Doherty's decision. Jennings said one firefighter who testified was juggling three jobs just to support his kids.
"You can make more money flipping burgers at McDonald's" than saving people's lives, Jennings said

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[childOfLacroix]

It's frightening to think of firefighters being paid $7.25/hour. Those wages won't attract the best and brightest. They'll attract people who cannot find jobs anywhere else.

[longnecker]

It's frightening to think of firefighters being paid $7.25/hour. Those wages won't attract the best and brightest. They'll attract people who cannot find jobs anywhere else.

How about the police? I see a major sickout coming.

[childOfLacroix]

How about the police? I see a major sickout coming.

I sincerely wouldn't blame them. Those are dangerous jobs. No way would I do a job like that for $7.25/hour. Hell, I won't even work at a convenience store or deliver food, because I feel those jobs are too dangerous for what they pay.

Very few jobs pay minimum wage; even most malls and restaurants pay a bit above it. I worked processing orders at a school pictures company last fall, and that paid $10.00/hour; the people in the mail room got $8.00. These firefighters and cops could make more doing a far less dangerous job.

[max1]

Too many public officials still think they have the money they had in the "80's-through the 90s" they need to stop cutting wages until they pass a balanced budget and and get the effin UNIONS out of this then cut the wages of administrative officials first..

[childOfLacroix]

I agree. If anyone should be downsized, outsourced, or have their wages cut, it should be the paper-pushers, not public safety workers on the front lines. I can understand a receptionist or file clerk making ~$7.25/hour, but not someone working a highly skilled and dangerous job.

[max1]

$7.25/hour,

That pay should be for "starter" jobs or simple part time work. How the hell do people make it on minimum wage? I get it you work more then one job, hell for that matter all you need is three jobs to make a livable wage :-)