Recalling Marineland’s glory days
The article about Marineland’s 80th anniversary brought back some old memories. My grandmother (Nell Duncan) took me to Marineland in 1940, and we stayed at the hotel on site.
I remember being impressed by the diver, in his hard helmet and diving gear, walking around the bottom of the Oceanarium. I would have been 7 or 8 years old.
It brings back so many memories of the “Old Florida” attractions — big deals then, not so big now.
The world moves on.
Robert Duncan, Orlando
Civil service abuses
As a former human resources executive, I am pleased President Donald Trump has issued orders to curb civil service job abuses. While most of the federal workforce does honest work, performance, mission and costs have been hijacked by unions.
Current law requires employees who have been identified for dismissal get 30 days to shape up. But the unions have played with regulatory hoops that drag that process out from six months to a year. Trump has ordered the 30-day limit enforced. Surveys of federal workers have consistently revealed that how agencies deal with poor performers is one of their top frustrations.
Employees who are also union officials have been getting “official time,” which means that they can devote 100 people of their time to union duties, not their government jobs. Congressional staff estimates at least 470 Veterans Affairs employees spend 100 percent of their time on union duties. Some doctors, nurses and specialists don’t see patients for long periods due to union work — and lose their certifications to treat patients. Trump has ordered that no more that 25 percent of any federal employees’ paid time can be spent on union activities.
Unions also have been receiving free federal office rent and expenses, travel reimbursement, grievance procedure and lobbying funding. Those abuses are all stopped. Unions won’t like this, but every federal employee is there to work for us. Unions have a right to represent workers who agree to that representation, just not at taxpayer expense.
John Haury, Port Orange