10/05/2025
Well said! Conroe Citizens, MUST READ!
Here is a funny story. Growing up, I was very aware of what a union was, probably more than most kids. I had a close family member who was very high up in a notable, nationally known union. I heard about a lot of dirty dealings in that one, and when we learned about unions in our history classes, it was interesting to see how the official story differed from the one I grew up living and hearing. All that is to say, I have always been on the fence about unions. I see the necessity in some cases but still question the methods of many modern unions in the free market.
However, on a local level, and with protections like Texas's Right-to-Work laws and the restriction on public employees being allowed to strike, I believe collective bargaining is a fair and necessary tool for those in high-risk jobs.
This brings us to the recent announcement by the Conroe Professional Firefighters Association to collect petition signatures to put collective bargaining on the May ballot. Let me state it clearly and without question: I support this initiative. Not because I have suddenly become a pro-union advocate, but because I know exactly why this has become necessary here in Conroe.
Our support for the firefighters shouldn't be seen in a vacuum. It is a direct response to a pattern of poor decision-making and a stunning lack of transparency from a voting majority of our city council, which appears to be led by the nose by city administration. When a council can unanimously support a massive 48” pipeline installation behind closed doors (no telling the story they were told to get them to a unanimous vote) with no public oversight, while simultaneously botching employee compensation, we have a serious problem.
The recent decision to approve a blanket 6% raise for all city employees is a perfect example of lazy governance. This is not good stewardship. A responsible administration would have done the hard work of analyzing which departments are being paid below their industry standard. Instead of rewarding high-performers and addressing critical needs, they chose a path that ignores the unique and dangerous reality our first responders face. Our police and fire departments have been asking for better pay, not to get rich, but to remain competitive, support a healthy work-life balance and to attract the best talent to protect our city. Their requests were ignored in favor of a one-size-fits-all solution that helps no one effectively.
All public servants are valued, but we must acknowledge that some roles carry a far greater risk. Those who run into burning buildings and respond to life-threatening emergencies deserve to have their compensation treated with the seriousness their job demands.
This flawed approach to city finances is mirrored in the city’s handling of major infrastructure projects. The approval of the Blackfin pipeline project is a terrifying example of what happens when citizens are shut out of the process. Major decisions that impact public health and safety are being made in executive session, robbing the council of the vast, multi-faceted knowledge that exists within our community.
When the city administration becomes the only source of information for our council, we get what we have now: a council that is led to believe they are voting on one thing, while the public is left in the dark about the real-world consequences. We saw this with the Blackfin approval, which lacked any real planning for the increased demand on emergency services. This is not just an oversight; it is a dangerous dereliction of duty.
When a governing body repeatedly demonstrates that it cannot or will not make wise, transparent decisions, it leaves the people it governs with no choice but to seek leverage. The firefighters' push for collective bargaining is not an attack on the city; it is a defense mechanism against a dysfunctional administration. It is a logical consequence of the city refusing to listen to its own experts and the community it serves.
This is why we must support their petition. It is about more than just pay or benefits. It is a referendum on the lack of transparency and questionable judgment that has come to define our city's leadership. By signing that petition, we are sending a clear message: We demand a seat at the table. We demand that public safety be a priority, not an afterthought. And we demand that the people we elect to represent us, actually listen.
