While reading the local paper online this morning, I ran across an article on Erick Erickson. Unfortunately, Erickson is on the city council and occasionally writes an op-ed for the local paper. I stopped reading his op-ed pieces long ago because, in my opinion, they are no more than extremely biased rants filled with right-wing talking points and contain very little factual information. Well, Erickson has pissed off the union members in Middle Georgia, and they are letting him know it.
Erick Erickson wrote an op-ed that was published in the local newspaper last Friday. No stranger to putting his spin on the issues, or to distorting the truth, Erickson called union members thugs. His reaction is due to the efforts of some members of the Macon Police Department to join the Teamsters Union.
In his op-ed, Erickson complained of union thuggery and suggested that the city should disband the MPD if officers continue their efforts to organize a union. Erickson's real insult to police officers is clearly stated in the following words:
"Perhaps we could impart some Keystone cops who, I am positive, would outperform a long-term unionized police force."
Followed by this gem:
"When you pit public employees against taxpayers, you inherently create a system wherein those who work for government bites the hand that feeds them."
After Erickson's anti-union op-ed, 35 Middle GA union members, some of them members of the SEIU, decided to show up at yesterday's Macon City Council meeting to confront Erickson, demand an apology for calling union members thugs, and support the push to unionize Macon's police force. Some union members demonstrated with signs outside the city hall while other union supporters filled the city council meeting room. Carpenters, firefighters, police officers, electricians, and city employees were there to support the policemen.
Members of the Macon Police Department (MPD) cannot obtain pay increases and the city doesn't even have a pay scale in place for police officers. Macon loses quite a few police officers because of the existing pay system. Many policemen and members of the Bibb County Sheriff's Department are trained in Macon/Bibb County, work here for a short time, and then head out for greener pastures in other Georgia cities/states that offer better pay. Changes in policeman's pay must go through the Macon City Council on which Erickson has a seat. Police Sergeant Sam Draper began the push to unionize Macon's police officers in an attempt to get increased pay and a pay scale in place.
After the council meeting ended, Sgt Draper took the floor and stated that Erickson's op-ed was disgraceful and followed up by requesting an apology from Erickson. Other union members and supporters also condemned Erickson for the op-ed. Erickson suddenly found that his laptop had some functions that he'd just discovered and refused to look up as his behavior was denounced, repeatedly. I think he would have liked to have been anywhere else except where he found himself Tuesday evening. In spite of the public condemnation, in spite of the fact that many members of the city council applauded when some members of the union spoke against him, Erickson refused to apologize and said that he stands by the op-ed. No remorse.
Well, Henry Gallimore, president of Central Georgia Labor Council Federation of Trades had something he wanted council members, especially Erickson, to remember and that is that union members are politically active, have worked on campaigns for candidates, and will be there in the future. In other words, take this into consideration, Erickson if you have aspirations for running for office in the future because we'll be watching you. According to Sergeant Draper, efforts to unionize will move forward and a vote on the measure is expected soon.
It is interesting to note that neither the city nor the mayor have taken any steps to prevent the officers from unionizing. I must state that state and federal laws prohibit cities from reaching binding agreements with unions according to the city attorney. Also, public safety employees cannot strike in Georgia. Sergeant Draper responded to the city attorney's statements by emphasizing that the effort to unionize Macon's police officers is not about pay increases or setting up a pay scale, but is about having someone to speak for the officers and the other benefits that unions offer to their members such as access to legal counsel.
I'm not sure whether he is bored with being a member of the city council, that RedState is thriving, or that he plans to run for a higher office, but Erickson has stated that he is not seeking re-election to the Macon City Council.
I've mentioned several times in the DKos community that Erickson is on the city council in Macon and some of the shenanigans he's been up to. It seems that he went too far this time. I'm 100% behind the effort of the MPD officers to organize a union. The prevailing attitude in these parts is that unions are evil. Almost everyone here endorses Erickson's point of view on almost every issue. They are strongly against any efforts of employees to form/join unions even though they don't own businesses, and many of probably them never will. I am pro-small business and pro-union, making me the minority here. I'm a square peg in a round hole, but I don't mind at all. I'll be a progressive for the rest of my days if it means helping to improve the lives of those who work for a living.
http://www.macon.com/...