Credit where credit is due

Kudos to the Vancouver, Washington fire department union, which decided this week to approve a pay freeze for its members. More than 90 percent of the members voted in favor of the freeze, which comes as the city (like most cities and businesses in the country) is dealing with an expected budget deficit.

Money quote from Fire Capt. Bill Garlington:

People are losing their jobs. The people losing their jobs are the people who are paying our wages.

Exactly.

I'm might quibble a bit, however, with how the Oregonian described Garlington's vote. Yes, his is a one-income household with college tuition bills looming on the horizon, but there are plenty of people in the same boat making a whole lot less than Garlington's near-$100,000 annual salary.

But nonetheless: it's nice to see a union that has a clue about what's appropriate and who's paying the bills.