NY Times: Former Allies Turning on Public Sector Unions

[Geee]

Washington Examiner:

NY Times: Former allies turning on public sector unions
By: DAVID FREDDOSO
Online Opinion Editor
06/28/10 10:35 AM EDT

How do you know that organized labor’s agenda is in huge trouble? You start seeing anecdotal ledes like this one in The New York Times, from yesterday:

Trenton — Stephen M. Sweeney, the president of the State Senate here, glowered with disgust as he described how one New Jersey town paid out nearly $1 million to four retiring police officers for their unused sick days and vacation time.

Mr. Sweeney, a Democrat, also scowled about the estimated $46 billion New Jersey owes in pension contributions and its $58 billion in liabilities to finance retiree health coverage for government employees.

For years, Republican lawmakers have railed against public employees’ pay and benefits, but now another breed of elected official is demanding labor concessions, too: current and former labor leaders and allies themselves.

After 12 years erecting steel beams for office buildings, Mr. Sweeney became a top official in New Jersey’s ironworkers union, now holding that post along with his legislative one. He says the state can no longer afford the benefits won over the years by public sector unions.

“At some point, you reach the limit of your ability to pay,” he said.