Collective bargaining wouldn’t be a disaster, commissioner

Re: “Unions for counties would bring animosity,” April 29 commentary

All due respect to Grand County Commissioner Rich Cimino, his perspective fails to grasp the main benefit of allowing public employees to bargain collectively for wages, benefits and working conditions: These same public employees are also taxpayers.

As a retired firefighter-paramedic, former union president and negotiator, I respected these rights, as did my employer, when it came time to bargain for a new contract. As public safety representatives, we are not allowed to strike.

And for good reason. It would violate the oath we took when we were hired. Having the last course of action to be binding arbitration, the costs and the process were enough of a deterrent for employer and employee; it forced us to funnel our issues to what really is important.

Because that oath is held so sacred to most public safety professionals, it also can be used for political purposes when that public entity or rogue politician feels the only way to maintain a budget is to cut services. I can give many examples of local government entities where public safety was compromised over a downtown beautification project or other related examples.

I also understand his perspective of “union bosses.” From my viewpoint, no one understands your profession better than you. While our bargaining teams could obtain legal counsel when necessary, we alone were our own advocates. From this foundation grows the success of any union.

Rest assured, Commissioner Cimino, the sky is not going to fall, nor will the inmates run the asylum, if you truly had collective bargaining in your county.

Dale Steward,

Thornton Editor’s note: Steward is a retired firefighter and a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters.