Pension reforms exempt police and fire

In recent months, Governor Bruce Rauner of Illinois has been traveling across the state advocating for over $2 billion in cuts to public employee pensions. However, this proposed reduction notably excludes police officers and firefighters. “Those who risk their lives to serve our state deserve special consideration,” Governor Rauner stated in his February budget speech to the state legislature. By exempting these emergency responders, Rauner mirrored the actions of other Republican governors in the Midwest who have implemented unpopular changes affecting state and local employees in the name of fiscal savings and enhanced public services. Back in 2011, Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin presented a bill that sought to diminish collective bargaining rights for government workers and increase their contributions towards pensions and healthcare. Notably, this bill, known as Act 10, did not apply to police officers and firefighters, which Walker signed into law shortly afterward. In 2012, Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan enacted a right-to-work law, removing the obligation for both public and private sector workers to pay union dues, regardless of membership. This legislation included an exception for police officers and firefighters, which Snyder supported. These exemptions hold a certain appeal to the public. After all, who wouldn’t respect the bravery of police officers and firefighters? However, labor experts argue that these exceptions lack substantial justification. Although no one would downplay the risks faced by police officers and firefighters daily, they aren't the only public employees exposed to danger. In fact, statistics reveal that there are numerous other public sector jobs that pose greater risks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, on-the-job fatalities occur at a much higher rate among "refuse and recyclable material collectors"—commonly referred to as sanitation workers—than among police officers. The same holds true for power line installers and truck drivers. Moreover, the fatality rates for these workers surpass those of firefighters by a significant margin, despite firefighters experiencing serious health issues such as cancer at relatively high rates post-retirement. Even conceding that police officers and firefighters have a distinct claim on the public's sympathy, it isn't clear why the best way to honor that claim should involve more generous pensions. It might make far more sense to limit their pensions while increasing their salaries, as suggested by David Lewin, a management professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. For one, police officers and firefighters can retire with full pensions at younger ages than other state employees (starting at age 50 in Illinois, often younger in other states). This allows them to collect pension benefits for many more years, even while holding down full-time jobs in the private sector. This increases long-term costs for municipalities and states. Additionally, these early retirement policies strip police and fire departments of crucial personnel precisely when they are most needed. Yet, few politicians are questioning these long-standing privileges or asking police officers and firefighters to make sacrifices alongside other public employees. In Wisconsin, for instance, Governor Walker and other Republicans argued that it was vital to shield police officers and firefighters because the state depends on them during emergencies and couldn't afford internal unrest. In Michigan, Snyder expressed concern that extending right-to-work provisions to police officers and firefighters would harm team cohesion. This reasoning is hard to reconcile with statements by Republican lawmakers and governors like Snyder suggesting that their proposals would benefit employees—a boon that police officers and firefighters should presumably embrace rather than resist. Similarly, Representative Grothman claimed that the real goal of Act 10 was “to enhance the quality of education and other public services.” Yet, if policing and firefighting are the most essential services local governments offer, the public would presumably be even keener to improve them, not less. James Macy, a labor lawyer who has represented dozens of municipalities in Wisconsin, mentioned that smaller towns could greatly benefit from consolidating their police departments into larger units. He believes municipalities could boost the efficiency of their fire departments by reconsidering traditional scheduling practices, such as 24-hour shifts followed by one or more days off. However, these current arrangements are challenging to modify under the existing system. In the case of firefighter schedules, Macy noted, “The only way to change that is through bargaining. And firefighters protect that.” Some supporters of right-to-work laws and restrictions on collective bargaining for public employees argue that these measures should apply universally. A spokesperson for Wisconsin Republican state legislator Daniel Knodl stated: “Representative Knodl’s stance on the Act 10 provisions is that all public employees should be subjected to the same rules. This includes police and firefighters.” Harold Schaitberger, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, argues that including public safety employees in these reforms weakens and divides labor unions. Professor Bruno pointed out that police officers and firefighters are far more likely than other public employees to be white and male—the very demographics from which Republicans draw much of their electoral support. “People are delighted to see us at their doors,” Schaitberger said. “That gives us a presence, a voice, the ability not just to promote narratives but to push agendas.” ### Where the Dangers Lie Logging workers had the highest likelihood of dying on the job in 2013. Police officers and firefighters ranked somewhere in the middle, in terms of job fatalities. **Number of work-related fatalities per 100,000 workers, 2013** *PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR SELECTED OCCUPATIONS FATALITY RATE* - Logging workers: 91.3 - Aircraft pilots and flight engineers: 50.6 - Refuse and recyclable material collectors: 33.0 - Truck transportation: 24.0 - Electrical powerline installers and repairers: 21.5 - Construction laborers: 17.7 - Taxi drivers and chauffeurs: 15.7 - Grounds maintenance workers: 12.6 - Waste management and remediation: 10.7 - Police and sheriff’s patrol officers: 10.6 - Athletes, coaches, umpires and related: 8.9 - Firefighters: 8.2 - Electricians: 8.1 - Carpenters: 6.2 - Automotive repair and maintenance: 4.8 - Janitors and building cleaners: 2.2 - Educational services: 0.8 - Finance and insurance: 0.3 *Rate adjusted to compensate for number of hours worked* **Source:** Bureau of Labor Statistics **By The New York Times**

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