Editorial: Finding the money
By Staff reports
Fri Feb 13, 2009, 07:35 AM EST

Chatham Board of Selectmen chairman Sean Summers said this week he plans to ask all town employees to agree to a wage freeze – including union and nonunion staff.
For most town workers it would eliminate a 2 percent increase, but for the fire department and some school employees it would nix a 3 percent raise. An agreement between employees and the town would save $700,000 and help avoid or largely offset an override.
But since union contracts have already been negotiated, the town can’t mandate a wage freeze – it can only request one.
“We don’t have the authority, but don’t we have the moral authority?” Summers asked.
The answer is yes. If they haven’t already, every Cape Cod town should ask all employees to accept wage freezes and, if necessary, reduced work hours.

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