We continue to hear that the executive branch of our government will be reorganized. But, who are the members of the committee or commission charged with gathering and reviewing information that will be the basis for decision making on this important matter? Is there an opportunity for community input? I believe that it is important for this information to be shared with the public at large.
On the matter of reorganizing our government, I believe that the cart is currently before the horse. I believe that to reorganize effectively, the administration's deliberations should be free from the impact of Act 4440, our local collective bargaining law.
If we are serious about a meaningful reorganization of our government, I believe that steps should be taken to either repeal, substantially modify or suspend indefinitely Act 4440 during this worsening fiscal crisis. Several years after the crisis has been removed, then a new collective bargaining process that excludes salary negotiations and other economic issues can be authorized and implemented — leaving these economic issues for legislative determination.
After Act 4440 is either repealed, modified, suspended or in some other way neutralized through legislation, then the administration can get on with the tasks of implementing a reorganization plan. We need a plan that is deemed to be in the public's best interests and devoid of the undue influences that our fierce and highly politicized labor-management negotiations often force upon the larger taxpaying public. Any attempt to reorganize the government while Act 4440 is in place will be met with bitter opposition from union leaders.
Over the years, management has given up or lost many of its managerial prerogatives to public-sector unions.
If there was ever a time for management to regain some of its prerogatives in the interests of better government, it is now. The hope is that the end product will be a stronger and more productive public sector.
All of our energies should now be focused narrowly on establishing and maintaining an acceptable balance between our need to demonstrate astute managerial and fiscal capabilities and the needs of members of our public workforce for continued public employment.
Under these circumstances, public sector unionization should be placed on the back burner while our government attempts to address these needs sensibly and responsibly.
The governor and the Legislature should take every step that is appropriate to ensure the effective implementation of any plan to reorganize the Executive Branch of the Virgin Islands government.
Editors' note: Gaylord A. Sprauve is a retired public administrator.
