Leaders of the International Association of Firefighters Local 754 have agreed to forgo a cost-of-living raise and step increases for firefighters who qualified this fiscal year. In exchange, the city has agreed not to require random drug testing for firefighters and to provide $114,000 this year in tuition reimbursement for firefighters attending school. ...more

December 10, 2009

John Shuey's letter ("Union bashing," Nov. 4) tries to point out the evils of management while vainly attempting to show the virtues of unionism. Let me point out to him that while unions did play an important role during the early 20th century in ridding the many abuses that management was guilty of, this is no longer the case. ...more

November 8, 2009

Barack Obama is such a dynamic orator that you could almost overlook the boilerplate liberal tenets in his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention Thursday night: Increase taxes on corporations, but spare the middle class; use government to lift the poor and increase the minimum wage; help families pay for college and make it easier for unions to sign up workers. ...more

August 30, 2008

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee deserves applause for taking a tough stand against excessive union demands, despite a union-funded attack campaign and threats of political repercussions. ...more

May 30, 2008

The police union is upset with Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee because he won't go along with its contract proposal. But you won't see anything about its demand for raises of up to 10 percent in the union's brochures or ads attacking the sheriff. ...more

December 6, 2007

especially at a time when local governments are being forced to slash positions and programs because of a sluggish economy and state-imposed property tax cuts. ...more

October 10, 2007