As I’m sure you are aware, on July 25th Governor Patrick signed into law key provisions of the Municipal Partnership Act. These provisions are designed to cut costs, as well as create new revenue in order to facilitate meaningful property tax relief in cities and towns across the Commonwealth. Paramount is the focus on PARTNERSHIP and providing cities and towns with “options” to promote fiscal well-being. One such option is allowing municipal unions to collectively join into the State’s Group Insurance Commission Health Plan. This option, known as GIC, has received broad-based support from many government officials, community leaders, professional organizations, labor unions and ordinary citizens who have given their time and effort to lobby officials on Beacon Hill and rally support in their communities.
However, it has been acknowledged by the Governor, members of the Legislature and the Massachusetts Municipal Association that ALL options within the MPA may not be equally beneficial or appropriate for ALL cities and towns. Recognizing that fact, the MPA is very specific as to “how” a municipality joins the GIC. It is a structured, evaluative and deliberative process.
Despite this FACT, Mayor Phelan has decided to disingenuously suggest to the residents of Quincy that this is a simple process and that members of Quincy’s Municipal Unions are seeking to financially torture the taxpayers of Quincy to the tune of 8.2 million dollars.
This oversimplification is particularly egregious because Mayor Phelan, who had previously stated in a Ledger OPINION piece last April 16th, (“City employee benefits: Toward a fair solution”) that he felt “honored” to be apart of an organization that had participated in shaping the language, for this specific section of the MPA. For those of you who missed it?
“I was honored to have been appointed a member of the Metropolitan Mayors Association’s Municipal Health Insurance Working Group, where for 18 months I worked with representatives from municipal governments, employee unions and retirees, legislators and executives from the Group Insurance Commission to create such a solution. Our working group crafted legislation, included in Gov. Deval Patrick’s recent Municipal Partnership Act, that would allow communities the local option of joining the state’s insurance plan.”
Mayor Phelan being fully aware that this (1) is an “option” and (2) may NOT appropriate for all cities or towns, is now publicly posing the question as to “WHY” Quincy’s union members feel the need to evaluate the option and its impact, as is permitted for in the provision itself! The impact of selecting the GIC option could have profound ramifications for city employees and their families. It is intellectually dishonest to suggest otherwise to the residents of Quincy and disrespectfully to Quincy employees who want to make an informed decision about something as critical as healthcare.
Mayor Phelan chooses to ignore facts (Quincy’s lack of a PEC and the October 1st deadline) as he ponders what appears to be a mystery to him, while distributing “Taxpayer for Phelan” bumper stickers.
One has to wonder, is it possible he lacks the critical thinking skills to understand the very legislation, that he feels so “honored” to have played a role in developing? Or is there possibly some OTHER motive for publicly making such an absurd query? It is almost if he may have a vested interest in stirring up emotions and dividing the good people of Quincy during a heated election season.
As a strong supporter of the Municipal Partnership Act I have a practical suggestion for Mayor Phelan, if he would like to truly live up to his campaign slogan. (“He is moving Quincy forward.”)
STOP “PLAYING POLITICS” WITH THE MPA!
Last Spring, prior to the legislation’s passage Mayor Phelan attempted to use the MPA as political cover, when at the center of what can only be described as a profound failure of leadership. Essentially, issuing ultimatums to Municipal Union employees to acquiesce their right to the collective bargaining process or direct their concerns towards Beacon Hill (“City employee benefits: Toward a fair solution”, Patriot Ledger, April 16, 2007).
This Fall, Mayor Phelan is attempting to use the GIC option of the Municipal Partnership Act in such a divisive manner, that it is an affront to its most central tenet? Progress towards property tax relief through “PARTNERSHIP”. I respectfully suggest that if Mayor Phelan truly wants to attempt “moving Quincy forward” and encourage the adoption of GIC provision of the MPA, it may be helpful to remember the philosophy of governing from which it was conceived.
Phelan’s at the forefront of the newest trend in municipal politics: blaming everything wrong with a city or town on those greedy greedy unionized organized greedy municipal negotiating greedy workers. It’s a winning formula, and provides for easy scapegoats. Ride it hard enough, and you can get backing to violate the law so you can continue to flag them as a scapegoat.*
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* And yes, eventually that gets overturned in court, sticking you with original costs plus lawyer fees. You can also blame this on the workers, helping re-elect you while the town slides into the muck.
Mayor Phelan’s record of supporting workers, including public sector workers, deserves better than these posts.
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In mid-August the Phelan Administration voluntarily recognized union rights for at least 10 school custodians who were classified as “emergency or provisional” employees because the Romney Administration refused to allow civil service tests for school custodians. By granting voluntary recognition, the Phelan Administration gave these workers access to health insurance and other benefits denied them under Republican, anti-worker policies. That isn’t the act of a “blame the public unions” mayor.
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The cost of health insurance and its impact on city budgets is the single most important issue in municipal contract negotiations. Phelan is free to use the political tools available to him in that process (as are the unions, including the teachers who used the media and John Edwards very effectively).
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However, Mayor Phelan’s actions in agreeing to include “emergency” custodians screwed over by Mitt in the Union contract was honorable and refelects well on his commitment to all of Quincy’s working families.
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The usual disclaimer – my union has endorsed Mayor Phelan however we do not have a contact settled as we enter this new school year.
Regarding your comments…
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“The cost of health insurance and its impact on city budgets is the single most important issue in municipal contract negotiations. Phelan is free to use the political tools available to him in that process.”
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Let me be very clear… as a supporter of the MPA.
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Mayor Phelan is NOT using “political tools” to increase the likelihood of the Quincy’s Municipal Unions joining the GIC.
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NO
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He is USING the GIC, as a political tool for HIS campaign. There is a distinct difference and it disrespectful to BOTH municipal employees and the residents of Quincy.
As unions we won the legislative right to approve GIC rather than have it forced upon us. We won it that right politically. Seems to me that to be upset when municipal officials (management) act politically that we are outraged is not defensible.
Unions ADVOCATED for their members’ collective bargaining rights to be protected in the legislation.
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Just as hundreds of citizens, met with their Reps. and Senators, to ADVOCATE for the MPA to be passed as submitted to the Legislature by Gov. Patrick.
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That is Democratic process in action.
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Mayor Phelan is “misrepresenting” the GIC provision (option) to the residents of Quincy during a heated election, for the sole political purpose of benefiting his central talking point… “Protecting the Property Taxpayer”.
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Quincy, does NOT have a PEC and the Oct. 1st deadline, makes it literally impossible to join the GIC by this first deadline.
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How could this be different?
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He could have accepted the formation of a PEC when it was suggested pre-MPA?
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He could have done HIS due dilligence as the technical “Public Authority” and called for a meeting (as the law requires) with 30 days notice. From watching the City Council meeting last night, I learned he didn’t begin the formal process until Sept. 5th.
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When you start the process and the timeline for the FIRST STEP, exceeds the legal deadline date, how can you expect that it could be completed on time?
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Knowing that, he cannot publicly ponder “why” Quincy can’t make the deadline with any credible sincerity. It is entirely inappropriate to suggest that it is the Municipal Unions fault.
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In fact, I don’t believe we should be playing the “blame game” at all. Be honest, it is unfortunate that the bill did not become law until July 25th. Scapegoating the unions, for political points, will not move the city into the GIC any faster.
It’s just toxic, ineffective leadership.
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