Wednesday, May 23, 2012

I am FOR Protecting the Jobs of Frontline PMUA Workers



As many of my readers know, I have consistently made the case for the re-absorption of the PMUA into the city’s operation. I have taken this position out of concern for the rate payers, and out of a genuine concern for the frontline employees whose jobs have been threatened by the mismanagement of resources of the PMUA and the conspicuous consumption of its retired executives. 

The recent proposal by PMUA commissioners to furlough the frontline employees in order to pay for the egregious over $1 million settlement paid to the retired employees, coupled with the very harsh rebuke from the commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, makes this issue impossible for anyone to remain silent on.

Thus, it is important for the workers of the PMUA to recognize their real enemy. It is not those on the council, including me, who want very much to protect their jobs by absorbing them into the city’s work force. The enemies of the PMUA workers are those who would have them furloughed in order to pay for a settlement that is hard for even supporters of the PMUA to swallow. PMUA frontline employees are being deceived and bamboozled by those leaders who have gotten fat from gluttony at the public trough and contempt for rate payers.

I was appalled when I learned that the PMUA executives offered to haul the solid waste of a municipality with a population of 65,000 for a mere $8 million, while charging the 50,000 residents of Plainfield $12 million. How is this fair to our struggling ratepayers? The municipality with the population of 65,000 currently contracts out its solid waste for $4 million. Needless to say, the PMUA’s former executives were laughed out of town with their $8 million proposal.

This example clearly demonstrates how the PMUA leaders have priced themselves out of the solid waste market, making it impossible to attract external customers while at the same time rendering the authority a burden to rate payers in Plainfield and a threat to the future of its frontline employees if is not reined in.

Therefore, I say no to the proposed furloughing of PMUA employees, and no to the very bad and misguided idea the PMUA commissioners suggested of having the workers pay for the $1 million plus payout to the retired executives. I say yes to absorbing the PMUA frontline employees into the city’s workforce; yes to reduced rates, and yes to tax relief for homeowners. 

I am for reining in the PMUA and protecting the jobs of its frontline employees.

Regards,

Adrian

 

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

On top of this ridicules million dollar payout, they have the audacity to announce they are holding a tax sale in June for unpaid PMUA bills. They should not be allowed to have this tax sale until final decisions are made concerning the outcome of this entity. Everybody needs to opt-out.
WAKE UP PEOPLE!!

SAY NO TO JFK & TRACEY BROWN and SEND those who do not have our best interest in mind A STRONG MESSAGE – YOUR TIME IS UP AND NO 660 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!

Anonymous said...

Since the council knows we are being robbed by the PMUA, they need to expedite the slashing of the rates paid by Plainfielders.

"I was appalled when I learned that the PMUA executives offered to haul the solid waste of a municipality with a population of 65,000 for a mere $8 million, while charging the 50,000 residents of Plainfield $12 million. How is this fair to our struggling ratepayers? The municipality with the population of 65,000 currently contracts out its solid waste for $4 million. Needless to say, the PMUA’s former executives were laughed out of town with their $8 million proposal. "

What are you and your colleagues going to do ASAP about this?

Anonymous said...

As each day goes by, I now realize that the people of Plainfield vote with their emotions/loyalty. I am not voting for a candidate because he/she is my neighbor, pastor, friend, etc., I will be voting for the person who shares my views for making Plainfield a better place. I have a strange feeling that the majority of Plainfield voters vote the party line regardless of the facts set forth time and time again. I have been doing my research on the history of Plainfield and, once upon a time, Plainfield was truly the "Queen City." What happened?

Between the BOE, City Council, PMUA, Green and the Mayor, I say vote all of these individuals out because it seems as though they are all connected one way or another and, we will continue to get the same poor representations.