Scranton Workers See Pay Slashed To Minimum Wage?

by ~ The Rebel ~ Posted 2012/07/11 17:43:31

Related Topics: NPR, Wage, Contracts, Minimum Wage, Friday, Union, Contract, Court, Injunction, Workers, Court Order, rate

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A fight between political leaders in Scranton, Pa., has left each and every city employee earning $7.25 an hour — minimum wage.

Last week Mayor Chris Doherty slashed pay, on his own, saying Scranton had run out of money. Lackawanna County Judge Michael Barrasse issued an injunction telling the city it must recognize pay rates spelled out in union contracts. But Doherty continues to violate that court order.

Roger Leonard, a city employee and heavy equipment operator, typically gets a $900 check for two weeks of work. On Friday, it was only $340.

~ The Rebel ~ 2012/07/11 17:44:23

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"You have an all Democratic council and you have a Democratic mayor," says Sam Vitris, president of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 2305. "It's not Republican versus Democrat. This is Scranton City Council versus the mayor."

Scranton has had financial troubles for a couple decades now. A troubling mix of declining population since World War Two and economic hard times has stretched city finances. The mayor and city council have debated since last fall over how to fill a $16.8 million budget gap.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/mone...

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