Unions turn on Rendell

Mention the words "hiring freeze" or "layoffs" to union members and they develop a heightened sense of fiscal responsibility.

Faced with the prospect of losing public sector jobs if the state's fiscal crisis deepens, the union representing 20,000 Pennsylvania human services employees has come up with suggestions to save taxpayers millions of dollars.

The union is upset that Gov. Ed Rendell won't sit down and listen to its ideas. Instead Rendell has imposed a hiring freeze on most state jobs.

The quickest way to save money, argues SEIU Local 668, is to end private contracts.

"It is time for this administration to open the books and disclose the huge amounts of taxpayer money being wasted on private contractors," said union president Kathy Jellison. "Our members can do this work more efficiently -- and at a lower cost to the taxpayers. There is no justification for these private contracts, when our members can do a better job and have more experience at providing the same services. We believe this is why vital human services have not been fully funded in Pennsylvania."

I'm confused. Isn't the state turning to private contractors to save money?

It sounds like the union workers are turning on the hand that has fed them for the past six years.

Read the union's full press release at the link below:

State Human Services Union Identifies Ways to Save Millions of Tax Dollars

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS