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Radio Commercial Calls Bernero A "Bully" Save Email Print
Posted: 5:27 PM Mar 31, 2008
Last Updated: 7:24 PM Mar 31, 2008
Reporter: Lauren Zakalik
Email Address: lauren.zakalik@wilx.com

A | A | A

If you listened to the radio on your Monday morning commute, you might have heard something a little out of the ordinary.

A commercial debuted Monday morning, calling out Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero for being-- quote-- a bully.

And the ad, now playing on three different local radio stations, urges people to create videos poking fun of the mayor-- and to send them to the Local 580 Teamsters Union to win a prize.

It's called "Purge Bernero," and though it's in jest, they mean what they say.

"Basically we're calling it what it is," says Local 580 Secretary-Treasurer Mike Parker. "We're having fun doing it, standing up to a bully we think is unfair to people-- not only to his workers but members of the public."

Bernero is asking city workers to pay 5 percent of their health care costs-- something Parker says is unreasonable. But he says Bernero won't budge, so they've gone to the airwaves. Parker says it's a different approach than usual, but it's in their legal rights, he says.

The mayor heard the commercial bright and early Monday morning. Bernero chuckled, he said, but is standing by his budget.

"You gotta break a few eggs to make an omelette," Bernero explains. But he says everyone is making sacrifices, and he's not willing to burden taxpayers with the city's budget problems.

But until he convinces the union of that, the commercials are going nowehere.


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Posted by: AA Location: 20175 on Oct 3, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Heart is the potential dwelling of God, so let God make your heart the divine abode. Heart when enlightened works as a divine telephone, through which man can communicate with God. Through enlightened heart only, the man can connect with God. His Holiness RA Gohar Shahi calls out all human beings, without the discrimination of religion, colour or nationalities, to receive the Gift of God’s name from Him or His appointed representatives www.goharshahi.com www.theawaitedone.com

Posted by: Derek Location: Lansing on May 9, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Same ol' Teamsters. Trying to preserve obsolete jobs; no longer honestly representing their members; hopelessly out of touch with economic reality. This whole 'contest' is a smokescreen to hide the increasing ineptitude and irrelevance of the union. The only support unions get anymore is from the 'cool-aid drinkers' - like Frank and his brother. As for Elaine, where did you study economics? Governments and business can do whatever they want to deal with economic realities. Companies are in business to make a profit; governments are in business to serve the taxpayers. Neither exists to provide you with a job and 'free' benefits. If you don't like your City benefits package, find a job with better benefits. That's the great thing about a free market economy. You can put your talent out there and get the best job you can find. And if you can't compete, then you have to accept what you have - or improve your skills accordingly. Time to get real, people.

Posted by: Brian Location: Hillsdale on Apr 1, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Lay them all off and let them pay for Cobra insurance.... See what that`s like! Whiners!

Posted by: Elaine Location: Lansing on Apr 1, 2008 at 04:10 PM
City Employees have been paying for and towards Health Care for years. Giving up wage increases is paying for Health Care too. Government and Business cannot keep shifting costs to their workers. Few of us live in subsidized housing, we are paying down mortgages or high rent. Most of us buy American cars too. Help us to continue to proudly work for the people who live in Lansing and to do our jobs for the daily visitors too. Thank you.

Posted by: richard Location: lansing on Mar 31, 2008 at 11:57 PM
jeff, it was already on the news that the mayor and his staff pay for part of their health care premium and city employees don't. Maybe you should pay a little more attention to what is going on.

Posted by: Sandy Location: lansing on Mar 31, 2008 at 09:56 PM
Virg will tell you that the executive staff is paying 5% of their healthcare. What he won't tell you is they all get 10% raises before they started paying. Virg takes care of his own and destroys whomever disagrees with him. He must be "Purged".

Posted by: Frank's Brother on Mar 31, 2008 at 06:42 PM
What a a thinker this Mayor is, He is not going to burden the citizens with the City's budget problems. Here I was thinking the citizens were vested in this process somehow, guess not. Better keep the citizens opinion out and do what the Mayor wants. What a "Purge".

Posted by: Frank Location: The real World on Mar 31, 2008 at 06:27 PM
Sad, whats sad is people racing to the bottom of the economic ladder. Instead of draggin people down to the bottom, try proping yourself up. City employees have healthcare, good for them, everyone should have it, and I only vote for people who think that way. So as for Virg, purge him! I hope the residents have more smarts then to believe media campain put out by the administration. Its the same story every year, then afterwards the Mayor goes shoppin, those who dont learn from history are bound to repeat it.

Posted by: Jeff Location: lansing` on Mar 31, 2008 at 06:19 PM
let the mayor and his staff set the example for all the city workers, their no one special

Posted by: Brandi Location: Osseo on Mar 31, 2008 at 05:54 PM
Sad to me that the city employees are selfish to understand they still have insurance. What about the individuals who do not have insurance, or the individuals who are very under insured, but do not have a job that is willing to help with health insurance. I pay way above 5% of my health care costs. Sad that employees do not look at the big picture and see what else they have.

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  • Posted By: BarbaraI'm surprised by the news media who are shocked that he died after having passed a physical. There are instances of people having heart attacks as they leave the doctors office, have been given a good bill of health. Some coverage of the event seems appropriate but now I am ready for it to stop. Ok I wasn't a fan. Never was. But enough is enough. There is other news out there. There were other deaths of famous people that week, alot in fact. They got a notice in the news and that was appropriate. Yes was more controversial as was Elvis and yes they both got more time, but it bothers me that all of the national coverage that night was of his death as if there wasn't a war or other news of note.
  • Posted By: Entertaiment BigotSorry Becky if we busted his chops but I'm one of those Hollywood Bigots. I do not idolize anyone in the entertainment business more than I would my own Parents. So I can truly say he never had an impact on me. It is our culture and media that seems who decide who we should idolize and I'm sorry but I don't buy into that mentality. I didn't cry over Elvis and I'm not shedding a tear for Mr. Jackson. I didn't cry over Lady Di. To say he reached everyone in the world may be true but that doesn't make me a bigot just because I don't idolize or mourn him.
  • Posted By: BeckyI feel that you are all insenstive bigots. Excuse the past years...you have to look at what this man meant to the country as a whole. When is the last time you heard of an artist that reached damn near everyone in the WORLD regardless of their race? Elvis didn't even have that much of an impact. He is a human and has his mistakes. Only God can judge him and to say such nasty things about this man after his passings is plain disgusting.
  • Posted By: blablaOk he's dead, now can we read some real news
  • Posted By: jonI just wonder where is michael now?
  • Posted By: sandyBill, your right not Farrah or Ed but a pedophile, his attorneys will be looking for new jobs now cant live off mike now.
  • Posted By: BillWhat GREAT comments and all so true. How anyone can worship a pedophile is beyond me. To bad about Farrah, but you sure don't hear anything about her.
  • Posted By: BillToo bad so sad, NOT. Children of L.A, can now sleep easier. The courts don't have to waste money on him anymore and his so called friends will have to find someone else they can be a leach to. I remember when their show first appeared and it was fun to watch. But as time goes by the fame has destroyed him as well as all the damage he has done to his own body for no reason but to be wanted even more by the public. His attorney summed it up great.
  • Posted By: King of WarpOk, the immediate response is I'm shocked. Only the media and elite will sensationalize a story to make the guy out to be somebody to be worshipped. Everyone is now over Princess Di. So, pay your respects, honor his talent and keep the other crap out of the news. We don't need to hear over and over again about his drug use, child molestation problems. Good-Bye Michael Jackson now "Beat It"
  • Posted By: MarkThis is pathetic. Call me a dork, or a hater, or whatever, but this is seriously ridiculous. Yeah, an influential musician is dead at a young age. But do half of the headlines on this page have to be about Michael Jackson? There are four on here about him out of 8 listed.
  • Posted By: CarrieBS! I don't buy into this "sadness" stuff. I think we have a bunch of band-wagon jumpers!! Michael was a HUGE part of my generation's world (growing up in the 80s) and every chick LOVED him so from that sense, ok...it is weird to see him gone. BUT....he was a "has been" through the recent years (since like the mid 90s?) and so many people did NOT like him because of his life-style and mannerisms, etc. Notice his upcoming tour was in a whole other COUNTRY because he wouldn't make it here. But yet, all of a sudden, he is LOVED by all? GIVE ME A BREAK! I am NOT buying it. BAND-WAGON jumpers. Spare me.
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