Thank you very much for the direct and succinct response. It amplifies the difference between public service and private unions.
Walton Deputies To Unionize.
- Thread starter Bob Wells
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Whodat1.....Many average people in all walks of life survive in an area where most houses are over $250,000 on thirty-two grand or less a year. The vast majority of one income families and single parent families are really suffering regardless of their profession. Married couples suffer as well, but less due to two incomes.
When I was younger I worked so much that I rarely saw my kids and even now I work many hours above 40 in order to help elderly parents and put kids through college. I don't get over time when I work over either, nor do I receive comp time.
Deputies are no different than the vast majority of workers in this county. In fact, when you analyze benefits received by publci employees as opposed to private sector employees, public employees generally fair much, much better.
When I was younger I worked so much that I rarely saw my kids and even now I work many hours above 40 in order to help elderly parents and put kids through college. I don't get over time when I work over either, nor do I receive comp time.
Deputies are no different than the vast majority of workers in this county. In fact, when you analyze benefits received by publci employees as opposed to private sector employees, public employees generally fair much, much better.
Do you wear a gun to work or run into burning buildings? Just curious. Your attitude seems to suggest that the complete and utter evil and despair we deal with on a daily basis is the status quo for the rest of the working class. You remind me of the guy complaining in traffic at a police officers funeral that had been killed in the line..."that was his job..whats the big deal, I'm late"....I can hear you now. As if we should EXPECT to be treated that way...with deadly force, and not find it horrifying and absurd. And your response does'nt address the vast difference between rookie firefighter pay and rookie deputies. My point is, a starting deputy only makes a couple of dollars less than me, a senior officer.
Sir, I AM NOT in college. I am a grown man who also pays school tuition for his children. I am not a 21 year old rookie cop or a 25 year old resteraunt manager (who by the way, in this area make closer to 40 grand at Taco Bell..do the research). I am NOT a salaried employee, therfore, when I work over, I expect compensation.
I am a professional law enforcement officer. I do not get my kicks writing tickets or making misdemeanor cases on the public. Barney Fife don't work here. I am a trained DUI expert, Field Training Officer, Line Supervisor and a Criminal Justice Instructor. There is no excuse for the way that deputies' pay scales work.
Your attitude, sir, is exactly why the ranks of the WCSO are filled with inexperienced rookies. By the time they are trained to be good officers, they leave and go somewhere else to spend their career, only to be replaced by other rookies. You get what you pay for. They see better pay and overtime all around outlying counties. I am too old to loose all of my vested time and energy I have put in here and hope for change...SOON.
Why don't you sign up to do a ride along on the evening or midnight shift and see if you still believe we are adequetely compensated. I just hope you don't end up in my car.
In all fairness, that is usually due to the fact that overall their wages are usually much less than the private sector, therefore benefits tent usually to be better than those in the private sector.
Hey idlewind,
I?m sorry that you found yourself in the same boat as us deputies but is it really the same? Has your job ever put you on a busy highway in a heavy thunderstorm doing CPR or directing traffic while Fire or EMS work to save the life of someone they have never met, or sent you into a bar to break up a large fight by going to the center of it. Have you ever had to go up to a house that was fully engulfed in flames with a large propane tank that is also on fire with nothing but your suit and water from your hose between you and the danger. Have you ever had a knife or gun pulled on you at your job. If these are just a few of the things you see in an average day then you can say you are the same as us, but if not just say thanks for what we do and try to support us. We deputies are not asking anything from the public. We are just weighing the options of having a union present in WCSO.
I?m sorry that you found yourself in the same boat as us deputies but is it really the same? Has your job ever put you on a busy highway in a heavy thunderstorm doing CPR or directing traffic while Fire or EMS work to save the life of someone they have never met, or sent you into a bar to break up a large fight by going to the center of it. Have you ever had to go up to a house that was fully engulfed in flames with a large propane tank that is also on fire with nothing but your suit and water from your hose between you and the danger. Have you ever had a knife or gun pulled on you at your job. If these are just a few of the things you see in an average day then you can say you are the same as us, but if not just say thanks for what we do and try to support us. We deputies are not asking anything from the public. We are just weighing the options of having a union present in WCSO.
Drifting over into ideology here, is expecting a nation to put in 60 hour work weeks with limited to no leave time for their families a good way to keep a healthy sustainable society? Should people have to do that in order to feel like they are meeting basic needs?
Or should we ask for better for our families and friends and work for a society where people didn't feel like they've got to chain themselves to the desk, squad car, etc. in order to meet their needs?
Do you wear a gun to work or run into burning buildings? Just curious. Your attitude seems to suggest that the complete and utter evil and despair we deal with on a daily basis is the status quo for the rest of the working class. You remind me of the guy complaining in traffic at a police officers funeral that had been killed in the line..."that was his job..whats the big deal, I'm late"....I can hear you now. As if we should EXPECT to be treated that way...with deadly force, and not find it horrifying and absurd. And your response does'nt address the vast difference between rookie firefighter pay and rookie deputies. My point is, a starting deputy only makes a couple of dollars less than me, a senior officer.
Sir, I AM NOT in college. I am a grown man who also pays school tuition for his children. I am not a 21 year old rookie cop or a 25 year old resteraunt manager (who by the way, in this area make closer to 40 grand at Taco Bell..do the research). I am NOT a salaried employee, therfore, when I work over, I expect compensation.
I am a professional law enforcement officer. I do not get my kicks writing tickets or making misdemeanor cases on the public. Barney Fife don't work here. I am a trained DUI expert, Field Training Officer, Line Supervisor and a Criminal Justice Instructor. There is no excuse for the way that deputies' pay scales work.
Your attitude, sir, is exactly why the ranks of the WCSO are filled with inexperienced rookies. By the time they are trained to be good officers, they leave and go somewhere else to spend their career, only to be replaced by other rookies. You get what you pay for. They see better pay and overtime all around outlying counties. I am too old to loose all of my vested time and energy I have put in here and hope for change...SOON.
Why don't you sign up to do a ride along on the evening or midnight shift and see if you still believe we are adequetely compensated. I just hope you don't end up in my car.
I would think that the general public would be more supportive of your efforts if they did not get the same "burning building, guns blazing "rant every time they enter discourse with you. Not to mention the "hope you don't end up in my car" rant. And I resent the implication that because I raise questions that I may not be willing to do what you do if required. Believe me that many in this area have served their fellow man in some pretty tight places and don't go around bragging and making a big deal about it.
I have no doubt that law officers, fire fighters and EMT's are underpaid for the service they perform, just as I believe teachers, jailers, sanitation workers and others are underpaid. I believe one of the few services government must provide is public safety and I have no problem paying reasonable taxes to support those functions, including competitive wages for my employees.
However, those employees must realize that these are tough times for alot of people and the money is not there right now for the raises they want. Our commissioners have said their goal is to prevent layoffs, which is commendable. They also scraped up the funds to provide every county employee a small raise. I promise you that there are very few private sector workers getting any raise this year and most are living in fear of a layoff.
So, pardon me if I question why we need one officer to guard every deserted intersection in this county when many of us are struggling to just keep what we have. Pardon me while I question the need for 10% pay increases for public safety workers when many of those they serve are being laid off.
Maybe we would believe that "protect and serve" stuff alot more if the attitudes expressed were more in line with the statement.
Tell me an alternative and more important tell me how we pay for it. My Father worked even harder than I have for even less money and my sibblings at least turned out fairly well.
All of us have some danger or distasteful duties attached to our profession. Ever drove a semi-trailer down a icey mountain roadway? Fixed a power line in the rain? etc.etc.
This guy kills me.
What ten percent raise are you speaking of? I never saw ANY raise this year. And never mind about the pay difference question I raised between firefighters and deputies. Its obvious to me what you think about us so thats pointless. :roll:What candidate are you endorseing for Sheriff?