Los Angeles City Employees Appeal to Retain Jobs

In a recent Los Angeles City Council meeting, streams of city employees filed in to make appeals that their jobs not be eliminated.

"A week ago, council members listened uncomfortably from their leather swivel chairs as half a dozen technicians from the city's public access channel begged for a last-minute reprieve. On Wednesday, in an effort organized by labor unions, council members faced a stream of city employees such as Edwards, who urged them not to go through with layoffs that would virtually shut down the city's licensed child-care programs and curtail hours at libraries and recreation centers."

Although it's emotionally difficult to eliminate employees in an economy in which no jobs are being added (except in this area), the reality is that public unions over the years have sucked taxpayers dry with their escalating pay and lavish retirement benefits.

If LA city union membership wants to retain their jobs, they need to be prepared to discuss significant cuts in pay and retirement benefits as a trade-off. Until they do so, their appeals should fall on deaf ears.