As I see it, sure police officers should be paid higher for their job. However, it's so disheartening for me as a union man to watch many, if not the majority, of officers and firefighters moonlight in construction. Don't get me wrong, it's a shame that they feel the need to HAVE to supplement their income, but what usually ends up happening is they SCAB on union Building Trades craftsmen to do it by working for non-union contractors. The reason I know: my wife's friend's husband does it; and, I sat with my Business Agent as he chewed a firefighters ass in public for doing it.

I'm a union Ironworker from Local 21, Omaha, Nebraska. Ask me how I feel about rat ironworkers.