What strengths does the union have in its position?

"They want what?" the 1nayor exclaimed.
"Like I said," the town clerk replied, "17 percent over two years."
"There is no way that the taxpayers will accept a settlement anywhere near that," reiterated the mayor.
"I don't care if the garbage doesn't get collected for a century. We can't do more than 8 percent over the next two years."
The to\.vn clerk looked worried. "H.ow .much loss of service do you think the public will accept? Suppose they do go on strike? I'n1 the one who always gets the con:iplaints. Then there's the health problem with ra ts runnil1g all over the place! Remember over in Neibringtown, when that little kid was bitten? There was a hell of an outcry."