I was just carbon-copied on this letter, addressed to Mayor and Council Members of the City of Cincinnati and President and Board Members of Hamilton County, and clearly intended to be seen by many (as evidenced by the 50+ parties, including the Cincinnati Enquirer, that were also CC'd):

 

 

Mayor and Council Members of the City of Cincinnati

President and Board Members of Hamilton County,

 

As a sewer and water contractor in the Cincinnati / Hamilton County / Tri-State market, I find it a sad day when City Council knowingly passes a law that will require long time contractors to sue for the right to work. For 22 years, Howell Contractors, Inc. (HCI) has contracted with MSDGC and with GCWW. We have always employed Cincinnati, Hamilton County and regional employees. Up to 50 families count on HCI for their income. This may soon end.

 

HCI has contracted with MSDGC and GCWW for over $60,000,000 of improvements in the past 10 years and remain under contract with both departments for a combined $7,000,000 as of this writing. We have many long term employees, whom have learned their trade in the field and on the job. Our safety record is excellent and our employees are happy here. We offered to switch from a merit shop to union several years ago. Our employees made the decision not to change.

 

Yesterday, May 1, 2013, the Cincinnati City Council passed a resolution which limits our ability to bid on construction projects for the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), Cincinnati Stormwater Management and the Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW.) This ordinance will force HCI to become a “Union” company or fight in court for the right to work. On March 19, 2013 HCI was the low bidder for the Dellway Ave. Sewer Replacement in the amount of $2,174,000. The next bidder was approximately $250,00,000 higher. We have not been informed (43 days later) if the MSDGC intends to award the contract to us or not. Will the city really pay an additional quarter million dollars to throw an experienced and qualified contractor to the curb and award the contract to a “Union” company. All this while talking about Police and Fire Department layoffs.

 

It is not just HCI that is at risk. It is every “Merit Shop” company in the area. City Council has discussed this issue for many months and has had the benefit of input from several major forums including contractor groups. I find it extremely disappointing that the input would be ignored and a law like this could actually make it through Council. We now find ourselves at a great disadvantage in doing business with the City of Cincinnati and we can all fully expect to begin financing legal actions that are totally unnecessary. The city has just attempted to fix the unbroken machine and failed. Why?

 

Sincerely,

 

Paul Bricking

Vice President

Howell Contractors, Inc.

Frame of reference: The City of Cincinnati's budget woes currently has them facing layoffs in their police force and fire department, yet the cirty is still fighting for a half-conceived streetcar line that came in $25.9 million over budget when it went to bid, and the issues mentioned in the letter referenced will easily cost them millions in the course of any given year.

Who has pushed this through the City Council? Check their campaign contributions and I'll bet there is a direct link.

You may have a good point. I would also have to say, I firmly believe that Cincinnati's City Council may be the best paid group of half-wit buffoons I've ever seen in office.

yeah, they are probably better paid than our half-wit buffoons are.

This is the same behaviour that plagues the large cities like New York and Boston in the East. The fall-back position then of the union instigators is to then say..ok you don't have to hire a union shop, but you have to pay a "prevailing wage" rate that is at least at and probably above the going unionized rate for trade. Either way, an affront to taxpayers and to progress.

Boo Hoo !!

When union supporters have no logical argument...

 

Your pro-union views are widely known here. Is there any way to logically defend this?

 

I'll ask again if being in a union is such a great thing whey are unions doing everything they can to keep people from having that choice?

Boo Hoo !!

Way to add sometime to the conversation.

what is the ordinance that was passed?

Those on the left LOVE to throw the word FAIR around.

 

Well then those of the left explain how it is fair that a company that has a history of doing good, safe and reasonably priced work is now going to be prevented from doing what they have been doing because THEY CHOSE not to become a union shop. Again if union membership is such a great thing why do unions fear things like right to work?

Boo Hoo !!

 

...no doubt that you would have been crying if the entities that employed the services of your union employer had written laws specifically excluding the work of union contractors.

Unions have been a huge reason behind the collapse of many great companies and services in this country. The Airlines are a perfect example as well as the auto industry. When the unions force companies to pay outrageous retirment and insurance premiums, companies have no choicse but to file for bankruptcy etc.

 

The Union idea is a great idea, but it has lost the original idea of fair wages and work conditions long ago, now it's all about fleecing the hand the feeds them and has really brought this country down to it's knees.

I heard someone talking about this ordinance the other day on the radio. I believe this person said even the unions aren't in favor of this ordinance. Sorry, I don't have any more details. It was either the Sloan or Cunningham show and I have a 5 minute listening limit when I stumble onto their shows.

Unions have been a huge reason behind the collapse of many great companies and services in this country. The Airlines are a perfect example as well as the auto industry. When the unions force companies to pay outrageous retirment and insurance premiums, companies have no choicse but to file for bankruptcy etc.

 

The Union idea is a great idea, but it has lost the original idea of fair wages and work conditions long ago, now it's all about fleecing the hand the feeds them and has really brought this country down to it's knees.

MORE Propaganda the ABC and the right . It is STILL about fair wages and working conditions .