Without commenting on whether the CTU members should have accepted the contract put before them, I was struck by Mayor Daley’s comments after the failed vote (cited on the Chicago tribune’s website):
"Where is the money (for bigger raises) going to come from?" Daley asked.
"Public employees have to understand," Daley said. "Taxpayers pay your salaries. They are getting laid off. They are not getting pay increases. … These are very challenging economic times."
Funny, Mayor Daley had no problem finding $400 million in public funds for the new Soldier’s Field.
He had no problem finding over $400 million in public and private funding for Millenium Park.
He had no problem finding the money to tear down Meigs Field.
He has no problem finding millions of dollars each year for trees and flowers.
When it comes to what he wants (which usually involves self-aggrandizement): where there’s a will, there’s a way.
But if he doesn’t care: there’s no money, and there’s no way.