The issue for any city govt in financial distress is not Unions. It is not top-heavy administrative positions. It is not a lack of taxes/revenue. It is not a lack of “competition”.
IMHO it is a lack of quality managerial types and the lacking of managerial skills that should accompany any position of authority,…
…that are not capable of holding personnel accountable and by default not able to produce an ever increasing efficient workforce….like one should expect in the Private Sector….which MAY be indirectly relaeted to Union control….
….just a vicious circle. Better quality people require better pay. “Managed Competition” may have the opposite desired effect in the long run. Or maybe not.