MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After contract talks broke down this week between the city and its unions, the two sides entered into a cooling off period.
But that didn’t last long.
On Live at 9, Memphis Firefighters Association President Thomas Malone was very critical of the Wharton administration.
“The citizens of Memphis are our customers and this administration lied to the customers,” he said.
The city said there wasn’t enough money to meet the union’s demands, and refused to negotiate.
Thursday night the mayor even told WREG the money wasn’t there, after he proposed the city spend $15-million to repair streets.
“It’s extremely difficult. I wish there were a pot of money somewhere. I wish, wish, wish, but it’s not,” he said.
The administration said collectively the unions were asking for items that would add approximately $41-million to the city budget.
“To say there’s no money, we’ve given away over 40 million dollars in corporate welfare. We found $9 million for IKEA, and we’re fixing to open Bass Pro. None of these things are bad, but at the expense of the people who are running the city, the employees.” said Malone.
As WREG has reported, the city also faced a financial crisis with a multi-million dollar pension debt and increasing insurance prices.
“We’ll get the pension benefits situation under control and that will start freeing up money and that’s a number one priority for me,” said Wharton.
“It’s really a shame this administration is playing politics ,” said Malone.
“We are still strong, sales taxes are up. So there is a brighter day ahead,” said Wharton.