Retirement benefits are based on dollar values set decades ago and the contract under which they worked promised them 100 percent health coverage. To deny them these benefits this late in their lives would be wrong. The Legislature should therefore consider revising the law to fulfill earlier promises. Younger union members say they would embrace this idea. They are not keen about privatization, however, because that means some could lose jobs.
Union leaders say the new law gives too much power to the governor and the mayors.
Although workers would be consulted about contracting their jobs to private firms, the executives will make the decisions. There's no doubt that governments can improve the way they do business. But that must be weighed rationally because not all public services can be best provided by private companies nor should privatization be a retreat of government from its responsibilities to the public. Cheaper may not be better. There is an ever present danger of corruption.