Must be nice -- public sector unions in the news

No mention in the news article but these two have to be Union members -- no way would an individual get such kid-glove treatment. From Wisconsin again -- the La Crosse Tribune:

Six months on paid leave for city workers
The city of La Crosse has paid two employees nearly $80,000 in the six months since they were placed on administrative leave for reasons officials still have not disclosed.

Another $25,000 has been spent to have a private law firm take over municipal court duties formerly handled by assistant city attorney Peter Kisken, according to the legal department.

He and Community Development Administrator Liana Escott have been absent from City Hall since May 24, while the city continues its investigation, said Wendy Oestreich, the city�s human resources director.

Oestreich continued to provide no other details on the case, citing laws for personnel matters.

But Escott said this week she received no warning before the city�s action and has never been told the basis of any complaint against her, other than a potential violation of city policy. When she asked which policy, she was told that was not yet known, Escott said.

A bit more:

Both Escott and Kisken still earn $38.72 an hour for a 37.5 hour work week, Oestreich said. She had no estimate on when the matter might be resolved.

State law has no time limit on how long an employee can be kept on paid administrative leave, which in some instances has stretched for years, an attorney with the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission said.

Escott noted she had no previous problems on her work record, adding �I�ve never been in a situation like this.�

But Kisken, a city employee since 1992, was reprimanded in 2001 and 2003 by then-city attorney Pat Houlihan for job performance, and also placed on paid administrative leave for about two days in 2002 after a reported confrontation with Houlihan.

The city in 2006 gave Kisken $55,000 and transferred him to a different department to settle a discrimination claim he filed against the city.

What kind of cloud coo-coo land do these people live in and why do these city managers just drop trou, lube up and bend over for the union bosses? There is no economic reason for someone to be earning $38/hour for an admin or assistant city attorney position. And there is zero mention of pension or benefits. And we wonder why the cities are in such dire financial straits. Grow a pair and say no the next time the Union bosses come around with their hat in hand...