Big Labor and politicians across the United States have transferred union costs to taxpayers. For example, SEIU Local 444 (The Sanitation Officers Association, see related snow slowdown stories) has six full-time union officials who are paid full-time city benefits and salary, yet work 0.00% of the time for New York City. These Sanitation Officers are working on everything but New York City business – including political activities and golf outings – all on the taxpayers’ dime.
SEIU sanitation union transfers its costs to NY City taxpayers and provides an excellent place to cut the budget.
This means taxpayers are essentially paying for union bosses’ no-show jobs.
In 2009, SEIU Local 444 local President Joseph Mannion was paid $108,340 plus benefits, including seniority credits, for working fulltime for the union. According to the union’s 2009 IRS report, Mannion was paid an additional $83,046 by the union. That’s over $190,000 plus benefits.
This type of union cost transfer to taxpayers is commonplace.
If NJ Governor Christie, other governors, and Congress are looking for a place to cut the budget, taxpayer-funded no-show jobs would be a good place to start. There is zero reason overly-burdened taxpayers should be forced to subsidize Big Labor.
This SEIU waste of taxpayer money is just the tip of the iceberg, a mere reflection of what occurs throughout state and federal government agencies. Even worse, these transfers may represent violations regarding the use of federal, state, and municipal payroll funds.
Public employee forced-union-monopoly-bargaining not only forces workers under union boss control; it also forces taxpayers to patronize union bosses like Mannion. It is time to begin looking at the source these schemes, government mandated monopoly bargaining and forced unionism.
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Additional supporting information (to download complete supporting documentation packet, click here)
SEIU Local 444 – NY City Contract Language (pertinent part)
This is to confirm our mutual understanding and agreement that effective January 1, 2007, the Sanitation Officers Association shall be permitted five (5) additional full-time positions with full pay and benefits pursuant to Executive Order No. 75.
These five (5) positions are in addition to the one (1) additional full-time position with full pay and benefits effective July 31, 1999, that the Sanitation Officers Association shall be permitted pursuant to Executive Order No. 75 which had been funded in the 2000-2003 collective bargaining settlement. [Emphasis added]