Hack Holidays

Leo. All right. Now. We're coming up on on one of the high -- Holy days. Evacuation -- also known as saint Patrick's today it's only a holiday for hacks used to be just a holiday for hacks in Suffolk County. And in Suffolk counties illegitimate offspring of the city of Somerville. Now it is a hall is a floating holiday for all the state workers everywhere there's also another holiday it's called Bunker Hill -- it's even more obscure if possible. Then bunker and then evacuation day. That is in the middle of June it's the only it's a tough it's a tough stretch for the -- program to go from. Memorial play all the way to a fourth of July without a single day off so they've got June 17 right in the middle between Memorial -- and the fourth of July that these are ridiculous holidays we column hack holidays. They -- become the target in recent years. A Republican legislators trying to do away with them and many of the Democrats fearing for their political lives have joined in the assault on the hack holidays and today they had the annual hearing of the -- of the -- holiday abolition bill. And joining us now on the line is senator Mike can now pick from -- First from west field and they he's one of the leading proponents of abolishing the holidays I heard they came after your pretty good today senator --

Well you know it's that it is all part of the business were and I guess and and I -- in my mind if the situation -- state faces economically and fiscally isn't. This here's there was this might all be just unable gamer playing but it is serious and I think I'm I think the general public is. Quite aware of what these symbolic nature of eliminating these holidays is all about and I just hope we do the right thing how we really don't.

Does senator hard from South Boston all places when after you again today did he accuse you wanna be your remote Thanksgiving like you did last year.

Well we we actually focused on not patriots stayed this year but I have I have such respect for Jack you're writing very good guy represented district well and I I understand why -- Others they oust chairman of judiciary defending these. Bills but the other 220 can that there actually indefensible that taxpayers you know pay what whatever the sum of money -- and you know this overtime goal that's that they offer a lot of folks -- You know at the working men and women of the -- who work in the private sector in the rest of the state of the rest of the public employees. I don't get these days and so these exceptional deals that we've got to stop them whenever we find them and you know I'm sorry these -- that they cross hairs but you know they gotta go I hope they do this year.

You know my feeling about it is Marjorie in the story on line at the Boston Herald dot com is if you know if they wanna throw patriots day under the bus with the other to a holidays. Go ahead make my day you know I I don't have any problem whether it.

Or -- I -- know ideally they're kind of clearing me on that today in the united excellence in the reality is most employees in our state get the federal holidays and that is yet. -- a lot of -- we talked to people working mom and pop shops and others did everything get the whole host of of us of federal employees -- they can't get a Christmas Easter Thanksgiving. Maybe one or they don't have been a lot of people don't -- Columbus stay off for Martin Luther King.

Aren't. You out. -- And it's it's a pain in the end. Yes you know you then then have to move the marathon the Sundays and that would be that would be a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

I'll -- I hear ya gonna maybe that's you know there was some timing could be the Boston Marathon I don't know if that was meant to coincide bodyguards brawl anachronistic and an assistant. Nineteen thirties and forties debates all over again when there's somebody had to hand -- check every -- give everybody a free holiday and we started out here in Suffolk county and I get data to the -- government and I know a little -- miles away by our union is very smart that they are everyday challenge these you know exclusive deal to end in everybody's got their -- but only if you're in the public sector.

it's -- it's for big you you know I would say that if you took a poll of the holders of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Overwhelmingly. People would be in favor of doing away with these holidays and this is just silly stuff to say that. You know you have no sense of history this is not about history I mean you know you you know what we did a barrel last year we follow around Jackie hard and Brian Wallace the a state rep from -- the and they they weren't going to be ceremonies or even like that there were a you know what. Brian Wallace was on and that there on an eating -- of the city of Boston apparently with his grandchildren you know and -- was just cruising around. You don't could do one Arabs that the caller was.

Oil and Allegheny you do have that many of the state agencies actually had skeleton crews on side of the taxpayers needed to conduct business out here in Suffolk were actually able to do it and I think even City Hall in Boston had some some employees and haven't.

Well I don't know about that I would -- don't go overboard here or senator can map but I think they registry of deeds was open and -- registry of motor vehicle was open but I. I don't think Mobil's Menino whatever in an election year I don't think you would ever dare cross is workers that are alleged workers by giving the mighty not not. By requiring them to come in on one of the hack holidays.

While this is why are we know we need to come to the rescue the taxpayers video board we public employees are taxpayers still waiting in Hawaii. -- we put up put it I don't know but and I think you know you're gonna kill Ojeda on this issue this year I think it. The other the ability or two weeks before I'm. -- Patrick stay in the has been it was filed in January 2009. Plenty of time -- had a Governor Patrick I mean like. Obviously he's under some well deserved today he can put that in -- supplemental budget last fall I mean and that's when he gets that so. India -- mobile portable person doesn't tell us if we draft mistaken there was.

Very closely was very close and both branches of the legislature last year correct wanted to.

Not really live in South Boston.

Well now as well that I get tapping you know what I think South Boston is even changing and so we're all taxpayer I mean I'd I'd like to think we're all fighting for all the taxpayers that they -- how we. Everybody got the holiday private a public sector wouldn't be having this conversation but -- justify a very narrow approval public employees and you know I love --

man in the first world and have every and have a holiday every two weeks I mean this is due this is banana republic territory -- with these kind of holidays.

Go to the unemployment rate and oil has almost 13% got a New Bedford itself approaching 16%. You're you're at five so that people give an applicant for a job you're talking some. Places in this state one in five people don't have a job we're playing game of holidays I mean it's ridiculous.

18774694322. If you wanna talk to senator Mike come mapping keys the leading proponent who legislature of doing away with these two hack holidays evacuation they also promising Patrick stay. And the Bunker Hill day in the -- in didn't Suffolk County. 1877469432. -- we still last year you know bunker don't they that's the one that that's celebrates a a victory on a is that a victory by the other teams the British. On the hill that wasn't Bunker Hill right I mean that's none of that makes any sense.

kind of looking at the -- from their office right now Alexander as. I'm gonna hit the other history is -- every western mass in the county -- kind of got. Some great history and don't we just passed a resolution commemorating error about a that's. To detect the commonwealth participation in the war of 1812 I mean we don't needed day off to war of eighteen well again. You know it's ridiculous we're.

Republic day off for the Deerfield massacre I don't expect a mania that than what the massacred bloody broke doors actually to Deerfield massacres -- right down to what went we only. Give us a four day weekend for the massacres at Deerfield.

We exchange rebellion which obviously -- the way.

Jamie I know and everybody gets a free -- free drinker but the still spirited -- local establishment right that was that was a whiskey rebellion were correct.

Then there's no there's no and -- you know what I had been. I get why are we happy holidays but the other really have to go meg I get I I I wouldn't wanna -- to any enemy and I was very low -- in the committee initially and -- I understand the other of that what happened last year on the debate them both sides but. You know I would just what that I wouldn't be the one being the champion of these holidays to external sites which are more important issues are districts have. Much more partnerships to state employee force has much more important issues than these two days.

18774694322. Let's take a few calls with senator Mike an -- from Westfield. Susan you're next with how -- current senator can happen go ahead Susan.

I Harry -- yeah I'd just. I don't have a question that you wanna keep that I might it be city employees at the school system. And you know. -- hit the dishes sub standard hey -- get holidays. You know granted. -- Bunker Hill where. He -- think -- they would ever. When you substandard -- it's like nonprofit you get. Marge I'm off.

Susan Susan how many how many so how -- public employees are getting substandard pay any more pushing get all your health insurance right. It you get a defined benefit pension -- at the end of the job that's. That's OK most guys and most people in the private sector now Susan -- would do anything to get a job in the public sector.

Well you know yeah every major you know the these six figures. In the -- back.

Nobody it's steady its steady work again with a lot of vacation time a lot of health benefits and pension -- generally people get pensions now on the private sector -- and practically nobody.

Well I mean. That Egypt every morning at -- aid these great salary. Let me and it helped. -- 60000 dollars and nearly a live in the city yeah yeah I mean.

Agility on an average ticket can I -- I've been in a position where I accepted. Talk with constituents who have no jobs in India talk with people were under employed -- it. In -- in the private sector in and it's it's been vicious world out there and if somebody's -- all of our salaries is that only point out I I defend our pension plan it better healthcare benefits since. These are 21 now willing to different because the taxpayers are footing the bill and we get all those other holidays which are which are wonderful to west. Most people this is the reality to recall. Most people who work in this state don't get any thing like public employees -- on the Obama replaced often tend to get a bad rap but I understand that and this is not about given anybody a bad rap but it's about trying to defend the indefensible and I can't justify this in a city like Holyoke where you'd get nearly. 14% of the people unemployed. It you know this is this a nineteen thirties area you know favoritism holidays it it's it's just it's not it's not part of what the modern world is all about.

Thanks thanks for the call Susan 18774694322. John your next with Howie Carr and senator Mike cannot -- go ahead John. Yes.

Okay I'm just curious -- I was a student in the UMass system for years ago and they actually sent there and emailed to everyone in the system. Saying there's certain administrators -- certain or even if they were out one of the bridge that it wasn't in Suffolk County they were not -- entitled to the holiday. But they didn't actually cannot use it on -- you can take your bunker hoping you're --

Uploading a floating holiday as they call it.

That's still possible in our -- we're. There are no -- here retirement entrance into the night I think once they were established in Suffolk County. Unions across the area of the state employees plus the locals. Whether holiday -- you can't treat unionized employees differently so they challenge management overtime won the right and deputy UUK shut down. The court in Massachusetts all across the state. I'm the same day -- so they have a floating situation where you get to make the call center with a colleges a lot of that has been. Bargain into those contracts and they're getting about it going to be a problem by. You know what it -- I'm -- a lot of battles on behalf of the the public employees I think one of many more for me.

Thanks for the call John Paul your next with how we car and senator Mike and -- go ahead Paul.

Kealii -- 70 let's say threat they. Good I'm glad to hear they got I'm in favor of quality they'll work -- up for -- as a go to double got to work -- not a politician. The only reason why is free parking -- all do -- And I enjoyed it and MLK days the president this and move forward to the next film.

do you ever stop to think given the deeper sort of way Paul but you're the only one working and that's why you can get a parking space is number of people in the public sector even bothered to go to work today.

I don't they give it that way because it a lot of us that work over -- that way we're always looking. For -- pocket basis unregulated. Employee vetoed days are there a godsend. God bless some rich people only below. Thank you know.

I'm well thorough one ray of sunshine out there there is silver lining there is that.

I'm happy slaves. 18774694322. Cheryl your next with how we cards senator -- mapping go ahead Cheryl.

Hi this is a in my first I'm calling you but I've had to call because the holidays. I am a state worker. Yes I do believe. That they should take away those two holidays and that would say what I understand. C State's 63 1000000 dollars I am so will lead to give -- up because I think they are hack holidays. So I want it's just -- you know there is one state worker who quit going to give them up the -- that the voice changer.

Yeah yes you should have Cheryl you're gonna be shunned when you go to work tomorrow. We may share all your voice yeah. Thank you Cheryl we appreciate it senator can never thank you win that keep us informed what is what is the bill you have any idea -- becoming -- promote market.

Out of Vietnam by actually ironically when we -- short rule can they would all legislation has to be acted upon this. Saint Patrick's Day this year. So by that never -- to seven can't help build have to have a live action taken on them. If it's not a favorable one name meaning moving 21 of the floor the one of the branches. -- now global look for any opportunity to a budget amendment didn't I the other issue is not gonna go away we appreciate the support.

Let us know what as well we want. On top of -- thank you senator can expect 18774694322. We come back will be talking to Charlie Baker of the Republican candidate for governor on how we are. Hate George WR KEOs -- inside.