Union Rules: Despite No Horses, Detroit Water Department Employs 'Horseshoer'

Capitol Confidential ^ | 8/20/2012 | Jarrett Skorup

[MichCapCon]

Despite having no horses, the water and sewerage department for the city of Detroit employs a horseshoer.

Yet even with a department so bloated that it has a horseshoer and no horses, the local union president said it is "not possible" to eliminate positions.

Union rules have turned the department into a government jobs program, some critics say...

[OldMissileer]

You may want this one for the Michigan Ping List.

[oh8eleven]

the city of Detroit employs a horseshoer.
I believe the official job title is Ferrier.
My great uncle learned to be Ferrier during WWI and practiced in Hempstead NY until the mid 1950s when the demand for his services dwindled.
Too bad he didn't live in Detroit - he could still be drawing a paycheck - even though he died in the '60s.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Despite having no horses, the water and sewerage department for the city of Detroit employs a horseshoer.

It isn't such a bad idea to keep him on the payroll. I mean, the entire city is collapsing into chaos. Roads aren't paved, city buses are in disrepair. I suspect that within the next couple of years, the city will be using horses as a means of transportation again. It happened in Greece when their Welfare State collapsed.

[liberalh8ter]

It's 'Farrier' and this story needs to go viral. People need to understand that Unions are not good!

[chrisser]

"They don't have enough people as it is right now," Riehl said. "They are just dreaming to think they can operate that plant with less."

In other words, "They are just dreaming to think we (the YoonYun) will let them operate that plant with less."

[oh8eleven]

I stand corrected - thx.

[Hardraade]

In the meantime, they can make the whole government wear horseshoes.

[madison10]

Is it possible that this farrier is used for the City of Detroit’s mounted police unit?

[liberalh8ter]

NP. You could still probably submit a resume for your deceased Uncle. Since this story is out, they may need to fire the farrier they have (and hire a new one).

[cripplecreek]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

If anyone wants to be added to the Michigan Cap Con ping list, let me know.

[BubbaBasher]

That position would still be needed if he worked for a police department that had a mounted division like New York but the water department?

[immadashell]

In the meantime, they can make the whole government wear horseshoes.

They have to in order to support the horses a**es that spend our $.

[cripplecreek]

Perhaps the motor city hasn’t heard that there’s a new invention that some are calling a horseless carriage.

[Mr. K]

Who occupies this position and what does he do all day?

[Celtic Conservative]

This will be an interesting battle. An outside analysis firm says the Detroit city water dept. Needs about 400 employees to make it run efficiently. It currently has 2000. Also the water Dept. has some 250 job classifications(apparently including "horse shoer"), and the analysis team said it needs only about 40. Me , personally I am very pessimistic about Detroit being able to turn it around. In the words of Corporal Hicks from the movie "Aliens" :

"I say we nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure"

CC

[cripplecreek]

Me , personally I am very pessimistic about Detroit being able to turn it around.

That's what the emergency manager law is for. Unfortunately Detroit is fighting it every step of the way. Personally I would compromise and make Dave Bing the emergency manager. We wouldn't get all the cuts you or I would like but there would be big cuts.

[FortWorthPatriot]

"Too bad he didn't live in Detroit - he could still be drawing a paycheck - even though he died in the '60s."

Not to worry - even if he can't get paid the Democrats will make sure he still votes at least two or three times each election...

(Not slamming your great uncle of course, may he rest in peace - just noting the indecency of the left)