Wisconsin union battle

Regarding "Two states, two approaches to labor" [Opinion, March 2], why is Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's budget bill labeled the "angry path"? President Barack Obama was able to freeze federal union employees' salaries because federal unions do not have collective bargaining. Why isn't that labeled angry?

Obama's action was not angry, it was simply an attempt to control an out-of-control process in which public sector unions back candidates with a huge treasure trove of union dues, paid with taxpayer-funded salaries. These candidates, once elected, become the negotiators of new union contracts. Does this sound like a workable system?

Look where it has gotten us. Some states are on the verge of bankruptcy. It can only lead to higher tax rates to pay for the generous, newly negotiated contracts. Why should public sector union employees' pensions not take a hit, when Americans are being forced to make up for the pension losses? It is simply unfair and unsustainable. There is nothing angry about changing that cycle.

Diana Erbio

Saint James
 

Regarding "Why NY is no Wisconsin" [News, Feb. 27], I would like to respond to the statement by Sherry Halbrook, a spokeswoman for the New York State Public Employees Federation, that the union "released a report showing the state on average paid consultants more per hour than state employees who do the same work."

I am a retired engineering consultant who was a partner in a large New York consulting engineering firm. A report released in January by the Polytechnic Institute of New York University concluded that the cost of hiring a consultant is at least 15 percent lower than employing a state worker. This report covered work done for the state Department of Transportation by design consultants (engineers and architects), but I expect it applies to other public agencies as well, and to consultants in areas other than design.

There are many overhead costs that the consultants must include in their fees. These costs include not only employee salaries and benefits, but also rent, heat, utilities, project administration, equipment and liability insurance - the last is not required for state employees.

Lewis M. Damrauer

Dix Hills