In Superior Township, all nine firefighters made an average of $29,662 per person in overtime last year thanks to a “minimum staffing” policy the township follows. Anytime a firefighter takes a vacation day or is out sick, his spot is automatically filled using overtime. As previously reported in Michigan Capitol Confidential, Superior Township had only 10 total structure fires in 2010.
When the Michigan Senate passed Senate Bill 485 last week, there was some hope that it would address the issue of minimum staffing. The bill has now moved to the Michigan House.
But Jack McHugh, legislative analyst for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, said the bill is a watered-down reform that addresses only part of the problem.
State Senator Dave Robertson, R-Grand Blanc Township, said the bill stops municipalities from putting “minimum staffing” requirements into their charters. Robertson said about five municipalities have done that. But Robertson said the bill doesn’t address union agreements that include minimum staffing or agreements between the township and the unions.
Several fire departments have “minimum staffing” language in their contracts. Superior Township supervisor William McFarlane said “minimum staffing” for his fire department was the township’s decision and not in the firefighters’ contract.
Robertson said those types of deals were not addressed in the bill.
“It just states that you can’t use a charter of government as a blunt instrument,” Robertson said.
McHugh said the bill was a “small” accomplishment that left the bigger issue untouched.
“Once again, legislators are putting government employee unions ahead of taxpayers,” McHugh said.
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See also:
Ten Total Fires and $30K in Average Overtime
Pittsfield Township to Vote on Millage for Core Services
Historic Levels of Government Employment in Michigan
Commentary: Government is Not a Jobs Bank
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Thirty Percent of Shelby Twp. Police Salaries Exceed $90k
Tight security locked out dozens of anti-right-to-work protesters from the State Capitol as Governor Snyder was delivering his "State of the State" address. Protesters tried to disrupt the speech by banging and chanting outside the building.
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FROM MICHIGAN HOME HELP PROGRAM PROVIDERS — OFTEN FAMILY MEMBERS
ATTORNEY GENERAL ORDERED THE STATE TO STOP TAKING MONEY ON MAY 25, 2012
opinion May 25, 2012
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) "organized” Michigan's self-employed Home Help Program providers for the purpose of skimming dues from their ailing and disabled clients' Medicaid subsidy checks. The majority of these providers are relatives or friends taking care of loved ones. It’s been estimated that less than 25 percent of the providers are hired in an employment setting.
The first counter tallies SEIU dues skimmed since the union and state officials first launched this scheme in late 2006. The second shows the amount skimmed since June 9, 2011, when the Michigan House passed and sent to the Senate a bill to ban this and all similar “stealth unionization” efforts. The third counter shows the dues skimmed since the Governor signed the bill into law on April 10, 2012. The fourth counter shows the amount skimmed since May 25, 2012, when the Attorney General opinion was announced.
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