Business

Juneteenth Costly, But Boosts Wages


The spur of the moment Juneteenth declaration following the congressional approval (415-14 vote) and presidential signing Thursday will be an economic shot in the arm for some government workers, but cost untold millions of dollars for taxpayers.

The “instant holiday” caught agencies as divergent as local police and U. S. Postal service unaware. As a result, Boise coppers will be receiving holiday pay along with federal postal workers.

In Boise for example, firefighters will get eight hours pay back, and general workers will receive a “floating holiday.”

The copper union contract gives them double time and a half for holidays. If they are not working they get 10 hours (1 day’s pay). The contract is for “any holidays passed by congress.”

Ada County was blindsided and had not implemented a policy by Friday regarding holiday pay.

Pandering to the masses to get the holiday designated so quickly was an ill-advised costly political move in the GUARDIAN’S opinion. Instead, the holiday should have been instituted on June 19th, 2022.

Comments & Discussion

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  1. Makes no difference to the big boss. Costs be damned. If it makes you feel good, consequences are of no consequence.

  2. Bonnie Krupp
    Jun 18, 2021, 4:24 pm

    Is this to compete with the 4th of July or to eventually replace it. Wondering if our representatives understand?

  3. Other peoples money
    Jun 18, 2021, 4:39 pm

    So typical when using other peoples money, minimal thought towards any fiscal impact takes place.

  4. Chickenhawk
    Jun 18, 2021, 8:30 pm

    I work at Boise State but it didn’t matter to my department as word came too late. No day off here!

  5. A spur of the 156-year-old moment…

  6. Chickenhawk: So you got holiday pay at double time and a half?

  7. Rabula that was actually funny. Wondering where you overheard it.

  8. What a racist thing to point out. Who cares anyway because all the old white men are gonna pay the bill anyway. I hate he OrangeMan but sure love his money.

  9. BK Based on the division in OUR country, YOU may be correct! The forth may be a holiday of the past. Our elected public servants from both sides of the aisle know how to divert constituents attention To the middle RING in the circus tent?

  10. I can only wonder how many black folks knew about June-teenth before it was declared by our dear leader. Can reparations for people many generations removed from slavery actually be far off in all of our futures?

  11. Boise Lawyer
    Jun 20, 2021, 8:47 pm

    As a lifelong republican this post, and the comments, are disheartening.

    Freedom, which by definition includes the emancipation of slaves, is what our country is all about. What could be more worthy of a day of remembrance than a blanket emancipation of slaves that took place during a war when we literally shot and killed each other over a constitutional question?

    Take a moment of silence for this history here and then ask if all the bitching about a couple hours of vacation time for civil servants is ridiculous? It is. I’m speculating, bu half of you cheat on your taxes and the other half don’t pay any — you’re not losing anything here except your moral status. Show some damn respect for our past. Be thankful to be blessed to be born in this amazing country and be humble in the face of what we have accomplished — at what cost, and against what odds.

    Sigh.

    EDITOR NOTE–Counselor you miss the point. Our only issue was with the implementation, not the holiday. There wasn’t even 24 hour notice of the holiday. We respect Abe Lincoln, history, freedom, etc. The cost was closer to a BILLION dollars, not just a little overtime. Postal workers and most government employees either worked or will get a day’s pay for not working. Most of us don’t make $300 an hour like lawyers do either.

  12. Boise Lawyer
    Jun 20, 2021, 10:26 pm

    I love you Dave but no, you’re missing the point.

    Can you measure how much this affects you financially? You can’t. It’s a principle thing and I get that.

    I’m saying that if you want to talk principles there is a whole lot more in play here. Complaints about “rollout” in the context of this history of our country are technically correct but utterly tone-deaf.

  13. Concerned Neighbor
    Jun 21, 2021, 9:42 am

    I don’t mind Juneteenth as “Emancipation Day” if they removed another holiday to make room for it, such as MLK.
    Calling it “Independence” is purposely divisive though, and the opposite of what happened. That seems par for the course though… BLM are actually racists, Antifa are actually fascists, running up debt that always comes due, and marxism always leads to communism – not equality or other social benefit.
    The congress that passed this is just as spineless as others over the last several decades… the same group passed the neocon Iraq War2/Quagmire by similar margins.

  14. Dead Ohio Sky
    Jun 21, 2021, 11:32 am

    I’d venture to guess that were this a holiday for white, heterosexual males then it wouldn’t have been a problem for anyone. But it didn’t work out that way this time, did it? Sorry folks!

    This state is sad. I’ve lived in the south and not witnessed the level of bigotry and racism that I see in Idaho on a daily basis. The worst part is, it’s hate hidden behind the guise of “patriotism” or “the Idaho way”. Small minded simpletons, the lot of ya.

  15. The world laughs at us
    Jun 21, 2021, 12:39 pm

    The core point of the post is well heard. Me thinks the sudden holiday was intentional. The same way a dictator would surprise with a new unpopular policy. The world laughs at us and waits for the salvage operations after the smoldering heap cools off. The champions of American Tribalism are not going to like the new America when the current one fails. Which tribe do you think will win? I think none. I think we best stop the feuding.

  16. Boise Lawyer: The relative merits not withstanding, you are wrong when you say the financial affect cannot be measured. Employee paid time off as a job benefit is negotiated in every labor contract public and private.

  17. Is it already over?
    Jun 21, 2021, 4:41 pm

    The reasons for the 1st American civil war have been promoted and suppressed over the years to meet the propaganda needs of various different political power mongers. I wish the extremes would stop burning books so I could figure out the root cause of the matter. Perhaps I need to read history written at the time of the civil war to understand it. I request the titles of some unrevised and accurate history books written prior to about 1885 on the 1st American civil war so I can learn without the bias I’m showered with today at BS University. I’ve heard it was totally about slavery? I’ve heard it was totally about economics and freeing the slaves was akin to taking away their farm tractors? There were a fair number of slaves in the North and Blacks were a far from full citizens anywhere in the USA after the war. Obviously something is amiss with today’s history revisions.

    Hypothetical 2nd civil war? Why not, such events are common in history of many nations. Would have happened long ago but for our strict adherence to our excellent constitutional law. As for which team will win if it became a hot war? The one with the money, guns, and control of the government/military industrial complex. It will not even be a fair contest. Unless an outside power intervenes. China? They already seem to control DC and our industry and our tech and our farms. 2nd civil war might already be over?

  18. The Senate passed the bill TUESDAY- Unanimously!!!!!!
    The House passed it WEDNESDAY.

    Maybe, instead, this post should be about WHY Ada County Commissioners and HR Dept suck so bad that they were “blindsided” and not able to adjust ( cities as well).
    Oh right. Got it.

    Some stuff is obvious.

  19. Boise Lawyer
    Jun 21, 2021, 11:41 pm

    Caeth: I’m not saying the effect can’t be measured. I’m saying you and I can’t feel it in a measurable way.

    That doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter, it means it matters in terms of principle — it’s bad to waste public assets. My point is that standing on principle of tabulating public servant employee on-hours time (which I believe in!) feels super tone-deaf given the other principles at stake here.

    Could it have been done in a better, more deliberate way? Of course. But given all the rest of the principles at work here, do you and I have a moral leg to stand on when making that argument? I don’t think so.

  20. Lawyer: Again you choose to obfuscate the point of the Editor. The moral leg to stand on is the proper, responsible
    expenditure of the taxpayer dollar. Fine if you want to impulsively create a holiday for political theater. Fine if you want to assign some esoteric fiscal justification. Just make the actual implementation after the next budget setting procedure.

  21. Definitely some racial undertones here and this post remains instead of the recently deleted Flag Day BG post. Journalism!

    “Pandering to the masses to get the holiday designated so quickly was an ill-advised costly political move in the GUARDIAN’S opinion.” With no evidence or support of the opinion. Sounds more like a bias than an opinion. Pandering to the mass? Ill-advised, according to an OWG in Boise? It should have been instituted a long time ago! Texas made it official in 1980. Every state except South Dakota has already had an official observance of the day.
    Concerned Neighbor, how about if they remove Veterans Day? There is already a Memorial Day for veterans. Is two necessary? And based on the percent of veteran population, do we need 2 holidays for such a small group?
    Pandering to the masses?????? https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-juneteenth/trump-pledges-to-make-juneteenth-federal-holiday-in-bid-for-black-voters-idUSKCN26G326

  22. White folk not the core problem
    Jun 22, 2021, 8:47 pm

    Where on this planet are Blacks treated better than the USA? Canada perhaps, but with only 40 million people and no military Canada is really just a ultra safe suburb of the USA. No, I’m not kidding. Do some research as to how Blacks are treated in Germany or France or Italy. Libs tell me Europe is lightyears ahead of us socially. Not so much with Blacks. Can anyone explain Chicago’s violence? How is it my fault?

    Next topic. Asian success in America. Like a phoenix from the ashes in only four decades. Why not Blacks too, they been here 300+ years?

    You idiots are chopping down America out of hate for your neighbor and humanity in general. Aggregate Black underperformance is your excuse at the moment until you find a new excuse to damage this nation. Trees, Whales, CO2, UFOs, etc, etc.

  23. Wow!
    The above comment “where on this planet” is a racist comment from likely the same, and false!
    It is sad that the Guardian allows it to remain.

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