Suzanne Bremer for Somerville

Remarks before the Somerville Board of Aldermen, Committee on Finance

By Suzanne Bremer

June 22, 2010

I thank the committee for the opportunity to speak this evening on this important matter.

There’s a bumper sticker. Maybe you’ve seen it. It says “The Weekend: Brought to you by the labor movement.” The labor movement – the right of employees to negotiate, freely, fairly, and in good faith with their employers –this most basic right, hard won right – created the city that you now represent. Many of those who might be called “Old Somerville” are homeowners today because there use to be good jobs here – union jobs - jobs that could support a family on.

Make no mistake – these are hard times. The decisions we make during these our hard times will determine the shape of our community for years to come. I strongly urge our elected officials to work with our city’s employees to reach fair and equitable agreements. Failure to do so will further poison the relationship between the city and it’s rank and file employees. Failure to do so will cast a pall over this chamber that will linger for a generation. Failure to do so will make a mockery of another sign that you may have seen; Somerville – the All American City.

I thank the committee for its time.