BY ED VOGEL
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Assembly Bill 130 had been killed in the Senate on an 11-10 vote on May 22, but Sen. John Lee, D-North Las Vegas, won a vote to revive the bill and added amendments that both houses approved."
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Saturday, May 30, 2009
Carson City, NV - Boris Badenov (aka Dave Kallas) Prevails Over Dudley Do Right (aka The RJ)
Assembly Bill 130 had been killed in the Senate on an 11-10 vote on May 22, but Sen. John Lee, D-North Las Vegas, won a vote to revive the bill and added amendments that both houses approved."
San Bernardino, CA - It's Over Yogi! - Police Chief Mike Billdt retires - They can bring down the curtain.
The University of Alabama - Birmingham performance of the Pirates of Penzance - 2008 ANDREW EDWARDS
CONTRACOSTA TIMES
"SAN BERNARDINO - Police Chief Michael Billdt, who began his career with his department as a reserve officer in 1976, is now a private citizen.
Billdt, 53, spent Friday as his final day as police chief. He was San Bernardino's top law-enforcement officer for more than three years that were marked both by significant reductions in reported violent crime and a breakdown in his relationship with the rank and file.
Sworn officers twice voted no confidence in his leadership, and civilian employees did so once.
In addition to dealing with San Bernardino's knockaround politics, Billdt and other city officials have also had to contend with a budgetary crunch that has led to citywide spending cuts."
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
Atlanta, GA - When The Heart Gets Ahead of The Brain
BY RON YORK
Sometimes the heart gets out in front of the brain. The consequences are often severe. I know. I have been there many times. Scott Kreher, president of IBPO in Atlanta, now finds himself there - in a political purgatory.
This all comes as the result of worker compensation claims that police officers believe are being stonewalled by the mayor's staff. I have no knowledge of that matter. Since making those ill advised remarks Scott has been suspended by the chief and now the mayor says she is filing a complaint. The fall of a good man is often sudden and steep.
I once had a seventh grade math teacher who had his bluff in on me and all the other students. On the first day of class (1959) he pulled out a big wooden paddle from his desk and then began dispensing the rules of conduct in his class. They were mostly boilerplate until he reached the last and most important directive. He pointed to his forehead and said "You can take the information in through the brain" and then paused for some time. He then continued "or I will write it on this paddle and beat it in the other end." I knew, he knew, we all knew that he did not mean that literally, but we did understand what he was driving at.
Scott, take your public flogging with humility and contriteness. It will soon be forgotten.
Shirley, a person of power's finest hour is when they dispense grace. Scott needs that grace today. A truly great person has the control to restrain their power at a time like this. My father was a strict but fair man. He was much like Lucas McCain - "The Rifleman." He was the Baptist minister in our town. Dad had a way of applying power in such a delicate and gentle manner. I think you have that same ability. Today, you are at a crossroad. You can choose the path of anger and retribution or you can choose the path of grace and forgiveness. I believe you know the right path to take..
POLICEPAY.NET
Recently, he made an impromptu remark after testifying before a city council meeting and now has been consumed by this ad hoc quip. To any reasonable person, the remark is obviously an idiom. Unfortunately for Scott, political minds are not always reasonable minds. Before I get very far along this path of pontification, let me tell you what Scott said - "I want to beat her [Mayor Shirley Franklin] in the head with a baseball bat sometimes when I think about it,"
This all comes as the result of worker compensation claims that police officers believe are being stonewalled by the mayor's staff. I have no knowledge of that matter. Since making those ill advised remarks Scott has been suspended by the chief and now the mayor says she is filing a complaint. The fall of a good man is often sudden and steep.
I once had a seventh grade math teacher who had his bluff in on me and all the other students. On the first day of class (1959) he pulled out a big wooden paddle from his desk and then began dispensing the rules of conduct in his class. They were mostly boilerplate until he reached the last and most important directive. He pointed to his forehead and said "You can take the information in through the brain" and then paused for some time. He then continued "or I will write it on this paddle and beat it in the other end." I knew, he knew, we all knew that he did not mean that literally, but we did understand what he was driving at.
Scott, take your public flogging with humility and contriteness. It will soon be forgotten.
Shirley, a person of power's finest hour is when they dispense grace. Scott needs that grace today. A truly great person has the control to restrain their power at a time like this. My father was a strict but fair man. He was much like Lucas McCain - "The Rifleman." He was the Baptist minister in our town. Dad had a way of applying power in such a delicate and gentle manner. I think you have that same ability. Today, you are at a crossroad. You can choose the path of anger and retribution or you can choose the path of grace and forgiveness. I believe you know the right path to take..
Hartford, CT - Budget May Mean Cutting 30 Police Officers
EYEWITNESS NEWS
HARTFORD, CT
Leandro Santos said good police work has kept the neighborhood near his market safe. He said it's helped his business prosper.
He said word that the police force could shrink by as many as 30 officers worries him.
Eyewitness News obtained an e-mail sent Wednesday from Deputy Human Resources Director John Byrne to the city Police Union."
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Tuesday, May 26, 2009
San Francisco, CA - Labor ruling could sink police union's lawsuit
BY ANGELA LAU
UNION-TRIBUNE SAN DIEGO
"A recent California appeals court decision in a labor-rights case is expected to make it difficult for the Escondido police union and other public safety unions across the state to overturn unfavorable contracts. The 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco ruled that Senate Bill 440, a state law that passed in 2003, was unconstitutional. The law gave police and firefighter unions, which by law are not allowed to go on strike, the right to demand binding arbitration of contracts that they didn't like. It required cities and counties to abide by the arbitration panel's decision unless their governing bodies could muster a unanimous vote to overturn it."
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UNION-TRIBUNE SAN DIEGO
"A recent California appeals court decision in a labor-rights case is expected to make it difficult for the Escondido police union and other public safety unions across the state to overturn unfavorable contracts. The 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco ruled that Senate Bill 440, a state law that passed in 2003, was unconstitutional. The law gave police and firefighter unions, which by law are not allowed to go on strike, the right to demand binding arbitration of contracts that they didn't like. It required cities and counties to abide by the arbitration panel's decision unless their governing bodies could muster a unanimous vote to overturn it."
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Friday, May 22, 2009
Youngstown, OH - Police union rejects buyout plan
BY DAVID SKOLNICK
THE VINDICATOR
"Patrol officers oppose a decline in entry-level salaries to $24,000.
YOUNGSTOWN — The city’s police patrol officers union rejected an early-retirement buyout incentive, but the mayor said the city’s offer was not final, and he expects further negotiations next week.
The union rejected the deal Friday because it includes too many unfavorable provisions, a union official says.
Those provisions include reducing the entry-level annual salary of patrol officers from about $38,000 to $24,000 in one proposal from the city administration and to $27,000 in the other, said Doug Pesa, secretary-treasurer of the Youngstown Police Association."
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THE VINDICATOR
"Patrol officers oppose a decline in entry-level salaries to $24,000.
YOUNGSTOWN — The city’s police patrol officers union rejected an early-retirement buyout incentive, but the mayor said the city’s offer was not final, and he expects further negotiations next week.
The union rejected the deal Friday because it includes too many unfavorable provisions, a union official says.
Those provisions include reducing the entry-level annual salary of patrol officers from about $38,000 to $24,000 in one proposal from the city administration and to $27,000 in the other, said Doug Pesa, secretary-treasurer of the Youngstown Police Association."
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Mesa, AZ - Police, firefighters press salary issues
Bryan Soller, FOP president
BY GARY NELSON
ARIZONA REPUBLIC
"Mesa's best young police officers could drift off to other cities if they don't begin receiving merit pay increases soon, the City Council was told Thursday.
Bryan Soller, president of the Mesa chapter of Fraternal Order of Police, said not restoring merit pay could be expensive in the long run because it costs up to $125,000 to train each new officer.
'We fear that we could lose our younger, cream-of-the-crop officers to other agencies once they start hiring,' Soller said. 'If we freeze merit pay, we have no real incentive for these younger officers not to look elsewhere.'"
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San Jose, CA - Mayor optimistic on budget after union takes cuts
San Jose Police Officers' Association President Bobby Lopez
BY JOHN WOOLFOLK
SAN JOSE MERCURY
San Jose Police Officers' Association President Bobby Lopez said that while
he's willing to discuss forgoing raises, his officers — who just signed a contract in January that gives them a 1.5 percent across-the-board raise in the next budget year — are hesitant to give that up to city officials who continue to spend money on what he considers nonessential events and programs such as the annual Mariachi Festival.
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Wilmington, DE - Budget vote deferred - Collins says he has a deal
BY ADAM TAYLOR
DELAWARE ONLINE
Before the meeting began, police union President George Collins announced that the city's Fraternal Order of Police lodge and the administration had settled their differences. Earlier in the day, the union leadership agreed to defer a scheduled raise for the fiscal year that begins in July. In exchange, the city agreed to give the officers the 2.5 percent raise in the 2011 fiscal year."
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Thursday, May 21, 2009
Atlanta, GA - Emotions Running High - Cop apologizes for saying he'd like to hit mayor
THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSITUTION
“I certainly apologize to the mayor for the comment I made; it was directed at the anger myself and fellow officers are struggling with when we see her administration showing a total lack of responsiveness to these concerns,” Atlanta police Sgt. Scott Kreher said."
San Angelo, TX - Officials support vote to increase police pay
Officer Carole A. Brown
BY JENNIFER RIOS
SANAGELO.COM
San Angelo Coalition of Police set the contract election for Wednesday. Officers can vote throughout the day.
Officers will vote to accept or reject the proposal, said Korby Kennedy, president of the San Angelo Coalition of Police.
Lisa Marley, human resources director for the city, said she will prepare single-sheet documents showing officers what their current salaries are and their salary increases over the next four years if the contract is approved.
“I think it’s a fair contract,” Kennedy said after Wednesday’s meeting. “I think we fixed something that’s been broken for 20 years.”"
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San Francisco, CA - Charges filed against Gary Delagnes for foul language, public criticism
Note from Ron York - Only in San Francisco! Gary Delagnes, president of the SFPOA, is the modern day rendition of Harry Callahan - "Dirty Harry." The P.C. way is not his way. He just tells it like it is - in colorful language. Chief, if it is any consolation, Gary has not spared me from this acute frankness. Gary is equal opportunity. He gets everybody. As much I hate to admit it, he was right every time he chastised me. He has a disarming side also. My wife found him to be very charming when she met him. I can hear Gary now - "Marvelous!" God Bless Harry Callahan and Gary Delagnes.
BY BRENT BEGIN
SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER
Gary Delagnes, head of the Police Officers Association, was served with disciplinary papers last week for un-officer-like conduct for using vulgar language and referring to the Board of Supervisors in a not-so-flattering light, according to the union boss.
During hearings on police overtime in January, Delagnes complained that police should be allowed to do their jobs without the meddling of the Board of Supervisors. Delagnes, who can be unabashedly foul-mouthed, told the Chronicle that the supervisors were being “morons” and referred to them in a tongue-in-cheek manner as “geniuses.”"
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Los Angeles, CA - L.A. County's election winners and losers
BY DAVID ZAHNISER
LOS ANGELES TIMES
Winners
LAPD union: The Los Angeles Police Protective League spent nearly $746,000 on behalf of former prosecutor Carmen 'Nuch' Trutanich, who defeated Councilman Jack Weiss in a runoff election. Even more significant: In a race that was notably nasty, the police union's ads were by and large positive."
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Sacramento, CA - Police union balks at signing pay freeze
Brent J. Meyers, President Sacramento Police Officers Association
or as Ryan put it "Union Boss."
BY RYAN LILLIS
SACRAMENTO BEE
In a letter to police officers obtained by The Bee, police union boss Brent Meyer wrote this week that he would only sign off on his union's tentative agreement with city officials if the City Council votes to 'hold each of the other bargaining units accountable.'"
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Wilmington, DE - Budget includes layoffs for police and fire
FOP President George Collins
BY ADAM TAYLOR
DELAWAREONLINE
Mayor James M. Baker's administration wants all municipal unions to accept pay freezes for the next fiscal year, which begins in July, in exchange for no layoffs. The blue- and white-collar unions have accepted the offer, as has the 10-member unit of high-ranking police officers."
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Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Las Vegas, NV - Newspaper goes after Boris Badenov (aka Dave Kallas). Watch out Natasha
LAS VEGAS SUN EDITORIAL
As reported in Saturday’s Las Vegas Sun by David McGrath Schwartz and Joe Schoenmann, the committee wants only the sheriff to negotiate with the Police Protective Association on labor agreements.
David Kallas, who introduced the amendment as the union’s director of government affairs, argued that excluding the city and county from negotiations would eliminate bureaucracy that can impede a deal. But Kallas and the committee conveniently forget that it is the city and county that fund the police department."
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Los Angeles - Police Union Submits 16 Ideas to Save LA Money
BY ZACH BEHRENS
LAIST
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Louisville, KY - Police car take-home fee rejected
Mayor Jerry Abramson
BY JESSIE HALLADAY
COURIER-JOURNAL
"Louisville metro government should stop charging its officers hundreds of dollars in fees for using their police cars after hours, a state hearing officer has decided.
Susan Durant, who heard the case for the Kentucky Labor Cabinet, issued an opinion yesterday that metro police and Mayor Jerry Abramson violated collective-bargaining laws when they imposed the fees without union approval."
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Los Angeles, CA - Police union to release cost savings ideas
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
"The union that represents Los Angeles police officers today released a set of recommendations that it says could save the city millions of dollars at a time when officers' contracts are being renegotiated.
The current agreement between the city and the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents the LAPD's rank and file, will expire June 30. Though talks are under way, it is unlikely that a new contract will be in place by that time."
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"The union that represents Los Angeles police officers today released a set of recommendations that it says could save the city millions of dollars at a time when officers' contracts are being renegotiated.
The current agreement between the city and the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents the LAPD's rank and file, will expire June 30. Though talks are under way, it is unlikely that a new contract will be in place by that time."
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"A Short Ride In A Fast Machine"
BY RON YORK
POLICEPAY.NET
POLICEPAY.NET
"Someone opened up a closet door and out stepped Johnny B. Goode
Playing guitar like a-ringin' a bell and lookin' like he should" - Ricky Nelson "Garden Party"
Playing guitar like a-ringin' a bell and lookin' like he should" - Ricky Nelson "Garden Party"
Richard "Dick" Boyd came by the office today. I haven't seen him for several years. We laughed and retold all those old stories that were very serious many years ago, but today seem comical. When we first met, I was about twenty-one and he was a mature twenty-five. We were young and arrogant. Youth would last forever, or at least we thought it would.
Today, two grandfatherly toreadors of the past chuckled about the brash youngsters that once occupied our mortal bodies. Following in our foot steps are another generation of arrogant "yutes". There is no turning back. The locomotive is moving full speed ahead. If Dick and I have done our jobs correctly there will be many more young, arrogant, optimistic dreamers to come. Oh, what a ride Dick and I have had. It has been a "Short Ride in a Fast Machine."
A Short Ride in a Fast Machine composed by John Adams
Today, two grandfatherly toreadors of the past chuckled about the brash youngsters that once occupied our mortal bodies. Following in our foot steps are another generation of arrogant "yutes". There is no turning back. The locomotive is moving full speed ahead. If Dick and I have done our jobs correctly there will be many more young, arrogant, optimistic dreamers to come. Oh, what a ride Dick and I have had. It has been a "Short Ride in a Fast Machine."
A Short Ride in a Fast Machine composed by John Adams
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Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Portland, ME - Police Union Upset About Layoffs
Union president Scott Dunham
WCSH 6
The city had asked the union to approved a wage freeze or face layoffs. The union refused because it's contract was almost up and members had no pending wage increase to freeze.
Union president Scott Dunham says officers didn't expect to get a raise anyway, but had hoped to negotiate for some non-monetary changes. Both sides say they will continue to talk.
City Manager Joe Gray says if the police union agrees to a wage freeze by July 1st, the layoffs will not be necessary. He says when the contract is up, the city will be willing to negotiate on those the other issues."
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Toledo, OH - Mayor refuses to meet with laid off police officers. - Instead, he dumps it in the chief's lap
BY IGNAZIO MESSINA
TOLEDO BLADE
"A group of laid-off Toledo police officers showed up Monday morning for the second time in four days hoping to meet with Mayor Carty Finkbeiner but were turned away in disappointment again.
Instead of the mayor, Police Chief Mike Navarre was called to the mayor's office to meet with the 22 former Toledo patrolmen.
Danielle Kasprzak, a patrolman and 7 1/2-year member of the department, said the group wanted answers about the city's budget situation and their jobs.
'The mayor refused to meet with us as a group,' Ms. Kasprzak said. 'We are supposed to call the secretary and set up a time to meet individually.'"
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TOLEDO BLADE
"A group of laid-off Toledo police officers showed up Monday morning for the second time in four days hoping to meet with Mayor Carty Finkbeiner but were turned away in disappointment again.
Instead of the mayor, Police Chief Mike Navarre was called to the mayor's office to meet with the 22 former Toledo patrolmen.
Danielle Kasprzak, a patrolman and 7 1/2-year member of the department, said the group wanted answers about the city's budget situation and their jobs.
'The mayor refused to meet with us as a group,' Ms. Kasprzak said. 'We are supposed to call the secretary and set up a time to meet individually.'"
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Sunday, May 17, 2009
Canton, OH - Lawyer hired by mayor for negotiations wasted city money
BY JACK ANGELO, FOP PRESIDENT
CANTON REP
I want to make it clear that attorney Gary Johnson had absolutely nothing to do with our coming to an agreement.
Mr. Johnson wrote a proposal that was so outlandish, the FOP walked out of negotiations after 30 minutes.
Mr. Johnson did help to make the negotiations last nearly six months while he ran up the tab for the city."
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Hamilton, OH - Union willing to cut raises to avoid layoffs
BY RICHARD WILSON
MIDDLETOWN JOURNAL
The city clerk’s office sent out notice late Friday, May 15, that City Council would meet for an open special session Monday night, May 18, to consider possible changes to the city’s contract with the International Association of Firefighters Local 20.
In order to avoid layoffs, Hamilton firefighters have offered to forego 3 percent raises in 2010 and give up a confined space rescue team, saving the city more than $420,000 by the end of next year, said Union President Eric Abney."
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Stamford , CT - Mayor asks finance board to restore funds to avoid police layoffs
BY MAGDALENE
THE ADVOCATE
The potential for police layoffs became a reality Thursday when the police union and city administration failed to reach an agreement on concessions to avoid staff reductions. City unions across the board had been faced with layoffs since the Board of Finance cut funding for salary and step increases in April.
All bargaining units, except police and Board of Education unions, reached pacts with the city involving furloughs or deferred raises to eliminate layoffs."
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Saturday, May 16, 2009
Toledo, OH - Mayor Carty upset with TPPA president Dan Wagner
WTVG-TV TOLEDO
Today, the mayor made sharp charges against the head of the police union. The mayor says Dan Wagner is irresponsible in how he's portraying union negotiations with the city.
The mayor is particularly upset with an incident involving laid off police officers yesterday. Bright and early Thursday morning, a dozen laid off police officers demanded to meet with the mayor to talk about getting their jobs back. And the leader of their union indicated to the mayor more sit-ins may come. Wagner says, 'These guys do not have a job and they're going to have the free time to do this time and time again until you come out to talk to them.'"
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Los Angeles, CA - Bratton Hangs Tough - Councilman demands the Chief apology in L.A. budget dust-up
BY RICK ORLOV
DAILY BREEZE
And Councilman Greig Smith joined the fray, calling Bratton's threat 'bordering on extortion.'
The demand was issued as the City Council formally received Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's proposed $7.01 billion budget for consideration on Monday as well as measures to take steps to lay off and furlough workers.
However, the political disputes of the week have focused on the split in the council's budget committee over police expansion and the subsequent response from an angry Villaraigosa, who said he found it 'galling' the council would oppose his police hiring plan."
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Las Vegas, NV - City, county may lose say in police pay negotiations
BY DAVID MCGRATH SCHWARTZ AND JOE SCHOENMANN
LAS VEGAS SUN
Detective David Kallas, director of government affairs for the Police Protective Association, who introduced the amendment in the Senate Government Affairs Committee, said eliminating city and county representatives from the process “eliminates layers of bureaucracy that’s an impediment from coming up with a deal.”"
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Anchorage, AK - Police union agrees to wage concessions
BY MEGAN BALDINO
KTUU - ANCHORAGE
The city assumed it would happen and even used it as a means to balance its' 2009 budget.
After weeks of meetings and negotiations, the Anchorage Police Department Employees Association says it has agreed to take a three percent rollback on wages in the first year of a five year contract signed last December.
The plan had an overwhelming approval with 293 in favor and 83 against.
'I think the police employees felt compelled to meet the public half-way with this shortfall,' said APDEA President Derek Hsieh. 'One of the commitments we made early in this contract was that if there was a problem we would come forward and do what we could to help and I believe that we have done that here.'"
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Friday, May 15, 2009
Nassau County, NY - Watchdog: Deal with Nassau cops has back-end costs
BY CELESTE HADRICK
NEWSDAY
Eric Naughton, the county legislature's budget review director, also said the labor agreement does not increase incentives for detectives to retire. Instead, he said, it provides a financial benefit for detectives to wait an extra day to retire, so they can take advantage of a 3.75 percent pay increase -- adding about $10,500 to their average $280,000 severance check."
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Stamford, CT - Negotiations fail; 23 cops to get pink slips
BY DEVON LASH
THE ADVOCATE
The department now is understaffed by at least 21 officers, union President Joe Kennedy said. The added layoffs will turn 'one of the safest cities in America' to a city with 'no police coverage,' he said.
Meeting the city's demands would have been 'too costly' for the union, Kennedy said. The union has lost 29 officers -- bringing the force to 286 -- since a staffing high of 315 officers in 2001, he said. Eight other unions, including firefighters, reached tentative agreements to make concessions and avoid layoffs Thursday night, shortly before the 7 p.m. deadline. A ninth union, the MAA, reached an agreement two weeks ago.
At a monthly Board of Finance meeting Thursday night, city administrators said they could not provide details on the tentative agreements or the failed agreement with police until the finance board renders advisory opinions to the mayor and other lawmakers."
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Los Angeles, CA - Chief Bratton Fights For His Department
LOS ANGELES TIMES
Bratton said the vote, if confirmed by the full council, would set the LAPD back years in its hiring efforts, and he accused the three councilmen of misleading the public on the severity of the proposed cut -- particularly in Rosendahl’s affluent Westside/coastal district."
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Toledo, OH - Newspaper, Mayor, and Council Try Pressuring TPPA
TOLEDO BLADE EDITORIAL
CITY Council took a step in the right direction this week when it voted to speed up negotiations between Toledo and the union representing the city's police officers. Now it's up to stubborn union leaders to recognize that dragging out the process likely will only hurt the officers themselves.
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Lorain, OH - Fire, police cuts seen
BY ALAN INGRAM
MORNING JOURNAL - CLEVELAND
The fire department does not have any more money for overtime this year, according to a letter Dore sent to Fire Chief Tom Brown yesterday. Daily minimum staffing is to shrink from 17 to 14 beginning Monday.
'You are commended for your efficient operation of the fire department, but unfortunately the annual budget does not include funding for any further overtime expenditures,' Dore writes."
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Toledo, OH - Is Toledo's budget crisis overblown? - 5/14/09 - Toledo News - 13abc.com
WTVG-TV TOLEDO, OH
But the police union insists the city's deficit is much lower snd the mayor knows it! Could it be that Toledo's budget crisis isn't as bad as we thought? Is the originail deficit of $27 million dollars wrong?
Police union president Dan Wagner insists the city's budget projections are wrong. The police union questioned a University of Toledo professor who conducted a financial analysis for Toledo."
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Wilmington, DE - Police and Firefighters Facing Layoffs
WJZ BALTIMORE
City spokesman John Rago says the layoffs will save the city about $1.4 million. He says two other municipal unions have agreed to work at their current salary levels during the coming fiscal year.
Police union President George Collins asked the council Thursday to not pass a budget that includes layoffs of police officers or firefighters.
Firefighters union President Kevin Turner says the mayor should look for cuts in other places in the budget.
Mayor James Baker says the unions still have time to change their decisions since the city council won't vote on the final budget until May 21."
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Thursday, May 14, 2009
Pomona, CA - Police agree to salary cuts
BY MELISSA PINION-WHITT
DAILY BULLETIN
Pomona police agree to salary cuts - DailyBulletin.com: "Pomona police have agreed to take a five-percent salary reduction in a plan the union says will save the city $1.27 million through next June.
The Pomona Police Officers' Association voted to have officers take voluntary furloughs eight hours a month, officials said Wednesday. According to an agreement between the city and the union, officers will still work 80 hours per pay period, but the furlough hours will be used as paid leave at a later date."
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DAILY BULLETIN
Pomona police agree to salary cuts - DailyBulletin.com: "Pomona police have agreed to take a five-percent salary reduction in a plan the union says will save the city $1.27 million through next June.
The Pomona Police Officers' Association voted to have officers take voluntary furloughs eight hours a month, officials said Wednesday. According to an agreement between the city and the union, officers will still work 80 hours per pay period, but the furlough hours will be used as paid leave at a later date."
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Lubbock, TX - City Council approves resolution to raise police pay
BY BRITTANY PIEPER
KCBD CHANNEL 11 LUBOCK
Lubbock City Council approves resolution to raise police pay - KCBD, NewsChannel 11 Lubbock : "LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Thursday the Lubbock City Council approved a resolution to increase police pay, but it's not clear where the needed money will come from.
Inside the Council Chambers it was standing room only as police told the City Council their concerns. 'It's about being competitive, and we want to be competitive because we want that top applicant,' said one police officer.
The Lubbock Police"
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Orlando, FL - 15 Police Officers To Be Laid Off
WFTV 9 ORLANDO
15 Orlando Police Officers To Be Laid Off - News Story - WFTV Orlando: "ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando police officers thought they were safe from city layoffs.
But 15 officers out of 700 on the force will soon be out of a job.
That has some residents concerned about how the city will be able to fight crime.
“It doesn't sound like that many but we need them,” said one resident.
The Fraternal Order of Police is upset because both the union and Police Chief Val Demings have submitted budget proposals that did not require cutting actual officers. But the union says the city rejected those ideas.
The police union thought the Orlando Police Department was only cutting certain programs and vacant positions"
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15 Orlando Police Officers To Be Laid Off - News Story - WFTV Orlando: "ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando police officers thought they were safe from city layoffs.
But 15 officers out of 700 on the force will soon be out of a job.
That has some residents concerned about how the city will be able to fight crime.
“It doesn't sound like that many but we need them,” said one resident.
The Fraternal Order of Police is upset because both the union and Police Chief Val Demings have submitted budget proposals that did not require cutting actual officers. But the union says the city rejected those ideas.
The police union thought the Orlando Police Department was only cutting certain programs and vacant positions"
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Toledo, OH - TPPA Makes Bold Move - That's a chance you take, when the heat's on you - Oh-wo-ho, oh-wo-ho
TPPA QUESTIONS UT PROF ON CITY'S FINANCES
WTVG-TV TOLEDO, OH
TPPA questions UT prof. on city's tax revenue - 5/13/09 - Toledo News - 13abc.com: "The Toledo Police Patrolman's Union has spent the last couple hours questioning a UT professor who says the city is losing a lot of tax revenue. The City wants the police union to take a 10-percent pay cut blaming a huge budget deficit. But the police union says the City has more money than it claims, which is why the union subpoenaed Oleg Smirnoff. Smirnoff is a UT professor who worked up the numbers and determined Toledo was losing tax revenue."
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WTVG-TV TOLEDO, OH
TPPA questions UT prof. on city's tax revenue - 5/13/09 - Toledo News - 13abc.com: "The Toledo Police Patrolman's Union has spent the last couple hours questioning a UT professor who says the city is losing a lot of tax revenue. The City wants the police union to take a 10-percent pay cut blaming a huge budget deficit. But the police union says the City has more money than it claims, which is why the union subpoenaed Oleg Smirnoff. Smirnoff is a UT professor who worked up the numbers and determined Toledo was losing tax revenue."
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Los Angeles, CA - Mayor Villaraigosa: "LA's Running Out of Cash Quick!"
KNX - LOS ANGLES
KNX - Villaraigosa: "LA's Running Out of Cash Quick!": "LOS ANGELES (CBS) - The city of Los Angeles could run out of cash between November and February and has prompted Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to ask the City Council to declare a fiscal emergency.
By declaring a fiscal emergency, the city could move forward with the furlough plan without the approval of the employees' unions."
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KNX - Villaraigosa: "LA's Running Out of Cash Quick!": "LOS ANGELES (CBS) - The city of Los Angeles could run out of cash between November and February and has prompted Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to ask the City Council to declare a fiscal emergency.
By declaring a fiscal emergency, the city could move forward with the furlough plan without the approval of the employees' unions."
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Los Angeles, CA - City Council Succumbs to Apocalypse Mentality - Mayor Too.
L.A. City Council committee outlines drastic budget cuts
Budget committee recommends police hiring freeze, 800 more layoffs, 26 unpaid furlough days and cuts to parks, libraries, street-paving and other city services to close an expected $530-million gap.
BY PHIL WILLON
LOS ANGELES TIMES
"The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday got down to the grim business of slashing spending to make up for an expected $530-million budget shortfall, starting with a possible police hiring freeze, mass layoffs and mandatory unpaid furloughs for city workers.
The recommended cuts, which were passed out of the council's Budget and Finance Committee, would eviscerate Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's police hiring program and almost certainly lead to significant cutbacks for parks, libraries, street-paving programs and other city services."
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Budget committee recommends police hiring freeze, 800 more layoffs, 26 unpaid furlough days and cuts to parks, libraries, street-paving and other city services to close an expected $530-million gap.
BY PHIL WILLON
LOS ANGELES TIMES
"The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday got down to the grim business of slashing spending to make up for an expected $530-million budget shortfall, starting with a possible police hiring freeze, mass layoffs and mandatory unpaid furloughs for city workers.
The recommended cuts, which were passed out of the council's Budget and Finance Committee, would eviscerate Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's police hiring program and almost certainly lead to significant cutbacks for parks, libraries, street-paving programs and other city services."
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Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Toledo, OH - Wagner Playing It Cool - Caught up in the action I've been looking out for you - Oh-wo-ho, oh-wo-ho
BY ROB WIERCINSKI
WTOL11
"TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - Toledo police cuts may not be finished and additional layoffs are possible. However, a new deal is in the works with the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association Union.
On Tuesday, Toledo City Council passed an ordinance authorizing contract negotiations with the patrolman's union to head to binding arbitration. The decision needs to be agreed upon by both parties, but the head of the TPPA has said no to the request.
TPPA President Dan Wagner says skipping the step of fact finding would make the union loose out on the ability to reject anything they believe to be unreasonable. That's something that could be decided by the fact finder."
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WTOL11
"TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - Toledo police cuts may not be finished and additional layoffs are possible. However, a new deal is in the works with the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association Union.
On Tuesday, Toledo City Council passed an ordinance authorizing contract negotiations with the patrolman's union to head to binding arbitration. The decision needs to be agreed upon by both parties, but the head of the TPPA has said no to the request.
TPPA President Dan Wagner says skipping the step of fact finding would make the union loose out on the ability to reject anything they believe to be unreasonable. That's something that could be decided by the fact finder."
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Toledo, OH - "Good Morning Vallejo" - Toledo Mayor Wants Binding Arbitration - Now!
Note from Ron York - Good video with this article. I could not embed it.
ABC 13 TOLEDO
"The city of Toledo wants to cut a deal with its police union and soon. Yesterday, council sided with the mayor calling for a third party to step in. This third party could settle the dispute but so far, only the city is on board. Those inside One Government Center are angling to strike a deal with those across the street. Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner says he wants to nail down a contract with the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association. The city and its union were scheduled to meet with a fact-finder in two weeks. Tuesday the mayor asked city council to make that meeting binding arbitration. That means the fact-finder would decide how the contract should go. Most of council approved. City council member Betty Schultz says, 'When we don't settle the whole in the budget gets bigger and bigger and bigger"
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Washington, DC - Obama honors police heroes at the Whitehouse
Click photo to enlarge - Far right, Tommy Nee NAPO President BY JOSEPH WEBER
WASHINGTON TIMES
"President Obama on Tuesday honored 33 U.S. law enforcement officers who risked their lives -- from capturing terrorists to rescuing hostages held at gunpoint -- to protect and save others.
'It is an extraordinary privilege to celebrate these cops who have traveled here today to be recognized for their acts of courage,' the president said at the White House ceremony. 'These are the men and women who walk the beat and do the difficult job of keeping our neighborhoods safe.'"
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Youngstown, OH Cops favor buyout deal over layoffs
Mayor Jay Williams (l)
YPA President Edward Colon (r)
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BY DAVID SKOLNICK
THE VINDICATOR
"In the early retirement deal, officers would get one year’s salary paid equally over five years.
YOUNGSTOWN — City administrators have offered an early retirement buyout proposal to its police patrol officers in an effort to reduce, and possibly eliminate, layoffs at the police department.
The union’s membership will discuss the proposal at a meeting May 21."
.Meanwhile, the department’s ranking officers voted Tuesday to accept a buyout deal.
Union leaders with the Youngstown Police Association, which represents about 115 patrol officers, met Tuesday with Mayor Jay Williams and his administration to discuss the proposal for the first time.
“It was OK,” YPA President Edward Colon said of the proposal. “There’s a lot to consider.”
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THE VINDICATOR
"In the early retirement deal, officers would get one year’s salary paid equally over five years.
YOUNGSTOWN — City administrators have offered an early retirement buyout proposal to its police patrol officers in an effort to reduce, and possibly eliminate, layoffs at the police department.
The union’s membership will discuss the proposal at a meeting May 21."
.Meanwhile, the department’s ranking officers voted Tuesday to accept a buyout deal.
Union leaders with the Youngstown Police Association, which represents about 115 patrol officers, met Tuesday with Mayor Jay Williams and his administration to discuss the proposal for the first time.
“It was OK,” YPA President Edward Colon said of the proposal. “There’s a lot to consider.”
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Auburn, CA - Police union sues city over unilateral changes
BY JENIFER GEE
AUBURN JOURNAL
"The Auburn Police Officers’ Association is suing the city of Auburn for alleged unfair labor practices.
The lawsuit, filed May 7, lists the city, Auburn Police Department, Chief Valerie Harris and City Manager Bob Richardson as defendants.
According to the Association’s attorney David Mastagni and the lawsuit filed in Placer County Superior Court, police officers’ schedules were unilaterally changed without consent from or negotiating in good faith with the union."
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AUBURN JOURNAL
"The Auburn Police Officers’ Association is suing the city of Auburn for alleged unfair labor practices.
The lawsuit, filed May 7, lists the city, Auburn Police Department, Chief Valerie Harris and City Manager Bob Richardson as defendants.
According to the Association’s attorney David Mastagni and the lawsuit filed in Placer County Superior Court, police officers’ schedules were unilaterally changed without consent from or negotiating in good faith with the union."
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Long Beach , CA - Tsunami reaches Long Beach - City employees asked to forgo pay raises
BY PAUL EAKINS
PRESS TELEGRAM
"LONG BEACH - City Manager Pat West is asking city employees to forgo scheduled pay raises to cut an expected $43.3 million general fund budget deficit in half in the 2010 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
In a press conference at City Hall this afternoon, West laid out his plan to eliminate the upcoming budget deficit shortly before he was to make the same presentation to the City Council during a special budget meeting at 3:30 p.m.
West said the city will have $422.1 million in expenses and $378.8 million in revenues in its general fund in the 2010 fiscal year. The general fund includes basic services such as police, fire, libraries, street repairs and parks, but doesn't include self-sustaining departments such as Water and Harbor."
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PRESS TELEGRAM
"LONG BEACH - City Manager Pat West is asking city employees to forgo scheduled pay raises to cut an expected $43.3 million general fund budget deficit in half in the 2010 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
In a press conference at City Hall this afternoon, West laid out his plan to eliminate the upcoming budget deficit shortly before he was to make the same presentation to the City Council during a special budget meeting at 3:30 p.m.
West said the city will have $422.1 million in expenses and $378.8 million in revenues in its general fund in the 2010 fiscal year. The general fund includes basic services such as police, fire, libraries, street repairs and parks, but doesn't include self-sustaining departments such as Water and Harbor."
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Toledo, OH - You can make a break, you can win or lose - Oh-wo-ho, oh-wo-ho
SHAUN HEGARTY
FOX TOLEDO
"TOLEDO, Ohio - An end might be in sight to those on going negotiations between the city of Toledo and the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association . City administrators and the council have decided to put their best deal forward.
Council members voted Tuesday night to enter into binding arbitration. That basically means when that neutral third party comes back to town, the city will put its offer on the table. Details of that deal aren't being released. If the union agrees to the arbitration, that neutral third party will decide right then and there which side's deal will be accepted."
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Stamford, CT - City close to union agreements that avoid layoffs
BY MAGDALENE PEREZ
THE ADVOCATE
STAMFORD -- The city is close to finalizing concessions agreements with six city unions seeking to avoid layoffs, the mayor said Monday in a letter to Stamford lawmakers.
Unions have been faced with renegotiating contracts since the Board of Finance cut funding for salary increases last month in a move to lower the tax hike in the coming year.
Mayor Dannel Malloy said four unions -- those representing waste haulers, health care workers, dental hygienists and Water Pollution Control authority employees -- have reached tentative agreements that outline specific plans to accommodate the budget cuts.
Two others, United Auto Workers and the registered nurses union, have made written commitments to reach an arrangement with the city, although those unions have not yet settled on specific agreements. Three others -- unions for police, firefighters and lawyers -- are still in discussions with the city.
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THE ADVOCATE
STAMFORD -- The city is close to finalizing concessions agreements with six city unions seeking to avoid layoffs, the mayor said Monday in a letter to Stamford lawmakers.
Unions have been faced with renegotiating contracts since the Board of Finance cut funding for salary increases last month in a move to lower the tax hike in the coming year.
Mayor Dannel Malloy said four unions -- those representing waste haulers, health care workers, dental hygienists and Water Pollution Control authority employees -- have reached tentative agreements that outline specific plans to accommodate the budget cuts.
Two others, United Auto Workers and the registered nurses union, have made written commitments to reach an arrangement with the city, although those unions have not yet settled on specific agreements. Three others -- unions for police, firefighters and lawyers -- are still in discussions with the city.
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Gary, IN - City facing continued loss of police officers
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Gary facing continued loss of police officers -- chicagotribune.com:
"GARY, Ind. - The head of the Gary police union says low pay is among the reasons for a continuing exodus of officers from the department.
City officials say the Police Department has 218 officers on its roster, down from nearly 300 a few years ago. The Fraternal Order of Police leader, however, says at least four current officers are on military leave and nine are on extended sick leave.
FOP President Del Stout says the recent departures include three officers who joined railroad police and others who took jobs with nearby departments, including Portage, Dyer and Lake Station"
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Gary facing continued loss of police officers -- chicagotribune.com:
"GARY, Ind. - The head of the Gary police union says low pay is among the reasons for a continuing exodus of officers from the department.
City officials say the Police Department has 218 officers on its roster, down from nearly 300 a few years ago. The Fraternal Order of Police leader, however, says at least four current officers are on military leave and nine are on extended sick leave.
FOP President Del Stout says the recent departures include three officers who joined railroad police and others who took jobs with nearby departments, including Portage, Dyer and Lake Station"
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Montgomery County, MD - Police Union Demands Personal Use of Cruisers as Part of Deal
NEWS CHANNEL 8
WASHINGTON, DC
Police Union Demands Personal Use of Cruisers as Part of DealNewsChannel 8:
Montgomery County (web news) , Md. - One Montgomery County union's proposal is drawing some criticism as the county tries to get county employees to give up their cost of living wage increase.
All of the unions were asked to give up their cost of living increase because of the tough economic times. As an alternative to the raise, the police union wants its officers to be able to use their police cruisers for more than driving around for work. The county executive has agreed to the concessions, but some members of council may not be so quick to give the green light."
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WASHINGTON, DC
Police Union Demands Personal Use of Cruisers as Part of DealNewsChannel 8:
Montgomery County (web news) , Md. - One Montgomery County union's proposal is drawing some criticism as the county tries to get county employees to give up their cost of living wage increase.
All of the unions were asked to give up their cost of living increase because of the tough economic times. As an alternative to the raise, the police union wants its officers to be able to use their police cruisers for more than driving around for work. The county executive has agreed to the concessions, but some members of council may not be so quick to give the green light."
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Bakersfield, CA - City, police union spar over retirement and pay
HGET - NBC 17
City, police union spar over retirement and pay KGET TV 17:
"The Bakersfield city manager is grappling with the local police officers union over pay and retirement age amid intense budget negotiations.
Members of the Bakersfield Police Officers Association say they're being asked to forego benefits and money they've been promised.
But City Manager Alan Tandy said these are tough times.
'I can't wave that magic wand I can't make the economy get better or tax collections go up, so we have to deal with what we have,' Tandy said.
The fight between Tandy and the union has spilled onto radio, with ads encouraging listeners to call their council member and ask what they are doing to ensure public safety.
The city and BPOA locked horns over salary increases and upping the retirement age to 55.
The union accuses Tandy of withholding information from council members and endangering public safety by paring back the number of officers on the streets.
'It's been stall tactics, stall tactics, stall tactics, said BPOA president Bill Ware' 'It seems like we're negotiating against ourselves. We give them an offer and it seems like it's not good enough.'
'It really seems it's been a one way street,' Ware added.
But Tandy says if the union would be more flexible on the retirement issue, raising the age from 50 to 55, the city might be able to hire more officers to patrol the streets.
'We have been discussing with them taking it down (the retirement program down) a notch to what would still be a great program, But would not be as luxurious,' Tandy said.
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City, police union spar over retirement and pay KGET TV 17:
"The Bakersfield city manager is grappling with the local police officers union over pay and retirement age amid intense budget negotiations.
Members of the Bakersfield Police Officers Association say they're being asked to forego benefits and money they've been promised.
But City Manager Alan Tandy said these are tough times.
'I can't wave that magic wand I can't make the economy get better or tax collections go up, so we have to deal with what we have,' Tandy said.
The fight between Tandy and the union has spilled onto radio, with ads encouraging listeners to call their council member and ask what they are doing to ensure public safety.
The city and BPOA locked horns over salary increases and upping the retirement age to 55.
The union accuses Tandy of withholding information from council members and endangering public safety by paring back the number of officers on the streets.
'It's been stall tactics, stall tactics, stall tactics, said BPOA president Bill Ware' 'It seems like we're negotiating against ourselves. We give them an offer and it seems like it's not good enough.'
'It really seems it's been a one way street,' Ware added.
But Tandy says if the union would be more flexible on the retirement issue, raising the age from 50 to 55, the city might be able to hire more officers to patrol the streets.
'We have been discussing with them taking it down (the retirement program down) a notch to what would still be a great program, But would not be as luxurious,' Tandy said.
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Lubbock, TX - Police 15% pay raise plan comes back to council
BY JAMES CLARK
KCBD NEWSCHANNELL 11 - NBC
"LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Once again the question of police pay comes before the Lubbock City Council this week. Lubbock Police Officers want a 15% pay-raise. The Lubbock Professional Police Association says a pay raise vital so that Lubbock can compete with other cities to get good officers.
The LPPA also says that Lubbock ranks 42nd best in Texas for police pay but we're the 12th largest city in Texas."
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KCBD NEWSCHANNELL 11 - NBC
"LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Once again the question of police pay comes before the Lubbock City Council this week. Lubbock Police Officers want a 15% pay-raise. The Lubbock Professional Police Association says a pay raise vital so that Lubbock can compete with other cities to get good officers.
The LPPA also says that Lubbock ranks 42nd best in Texas for police pay but we're the 12th largest city in Texas."
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San Francisco, CA - Should Oakland and other U.S. cities replace police with armed mercenaries?
Riot in Oakland, January 2009
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BY JEREMY SCAHILL
SAN FRANCISCO BAY VIEW
(National Black Newspaper)
Should Oakland and other U.S. cities replace police with armed mercenaries? San Francisco Bay View:
"The United States is in the midst of the most radical privatization agenda in its history. We see this in schools, health care, prisons and certainly with the U.S. military/ national security/ intelligence apparatus. There are almost 200,000 “private contractors” in Iraq - more than the number of U.S. soldiers - and Obama is continuing"
SAN FRANCISCO BAY VIEW
(National Black Newspaper)
Should Oakland and other U.S. cities replace police with armed mercenaries? San Francisco Bay View:
"The United States is in the midst of the most radical privatization agenda in its history. We see this in schools, health care, prisons and certainly with the U.S. military/ national security/ intelligence apparatus. There are almost 200,000 “private contractors” in Iraq - more than the number of U.S. soldiers - and Obama is continuing"
Canton, OH - City approves new contract with police union
BY ED BALINT
CANTON REP
"City Council voted 11-0 Monday night to approve a new three-year contract with the Fraternal Order of Police.
The union represents 43 ranking police officers — captains, lieutenants and sergeants — but not the chief or deputy chief. Under the contract, ranking officers will receive a 3 percent wage increase in 2009."
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CANTON REP
"City Council voted 11-0 Monday night to approve a new three-year contract with the Fraternal Order of Police.
The union represents 43 ranking police officers — captains, lieutenants and sergeants — but not the chief or deputy chief. Under the contract, ranking officers will receive a 3 percent wage increase in 2009."
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Escondido, CA - Police union quizzing residents about possible recall effort
BY DAVID GARRICK
NORTH COUNTY TIMES
"ESCONDIDO ---- The labor union representing Escondido police officers used computer-generated phone calls this weekend to ask city residents whether they would support recall efforts against any members of the City Council.
The phone campaign comes amid contentious negotiations over compensation cuts that city officials are seeking from the 150-member union to close widening city budget deficits.
During similar negotiations in March, the union mailed a provocative flier to 17,000 Escondido homes claiming that 'gang members outnumber police officers by almost 6 to 1.'"
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NORTH COUNTY TIMES
"ESCONDIDO ---- The labor union representing Escondido police officers used computer-generated phone calls this weekend to ask city residents whether they would support recall efforts against any members of the City Council.
The phone campaign comes amid contentious negotiations over compensation cuts that city officials are seeking from the 150-member union to close widening city budget deficits.
During similar negotiations in March, the union mailed a provocative flier to 17,000 Escondido homes claiming that 'gang members outnumber police officers by almost 6 to 1.'"
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Toledo, OH - The Heat Is On, On The Street - Oh-wo-ho, oh-wo-ho
"BY TOM TROY
TOLEDO BLADE
"Dan Wagner, president of the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association union representing 482 police officers, said yesterday that 'the mayor's just trying to use terroristic tactics.'
He said the police unions will stick with the negotiating schedule, which calls for the union and city to meet for a second time with a fact-finder at the end of the month.
Mr. Wagner said the TPPA and Firefighters Local 29 have subpoenaed University of Toledo professor Oleg Smirnov for a sworn deposition tomorrow at the police union hall.
The unions want Mr. Smirnov to answer questions about predictions he and another UT academic made in February about an abrupt decline in city income tax revenue in 2009."
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TOLEDO BLADE
"Dan Wagner, president of the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association union representing 482 police officers, said yesterday that 'the mayor's just trying to use terroristic tactics.'
He said the police unions will stick with the negotiating schedule, which calls for the union and city to meet for a second time with a fact-finder at the end of the month.
Mr. Wagner said the TPPA and Firefighters Local 29 have subpoenaed University of Toledo professor Oleg Smirnov for a sworn deposition tomorrow at the police union hall.
The unions want Mr. Smirnov to answer questions about predictions he and another UT academic made in February about an abrupt decline in city income tax revenue in 2009."
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Monday, May 11, 2009
San Diego, CA - 100-plus cops might retire before July 1
BY KRISTINA DAVIS
UNION-TRIBUNE
"SAN DIEGO — Sgt. Tony Johnson has worked his whole career to get where he is now, in a coveted supervisor's spot on the Cold Case Homicide team. He thought retirement was two more years away, until he learned what it might cost him to stay. Johnson, 52, is among numerous seasoned San Diego police officers who are speeding up their retirement plans to avoid being hit with the new terms of their city-imposed contract, which takes effect July 1."
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UNION-TRIBUNE
"SAN DIEGO — Sgt. Tony Johnson has worked his whole career to get where he is now, in a coveted supervisor's spot on the Cold Case Homicide team. He thought retirement was two more years away, until he learned what it might cost him to stay. Johnson, 52, is among numerous seasoned San Diego police officers who are speeding up their retirement plans to avoid being hit with the new terms of their city-imposed contract, which takes effect July 1."
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Sunday, May 10, 2009
Los Angeles, CA - L.A. Cops Win Donning and Doffing Law Suit
LOS ANGELES TIMES
“This is a huge deal,” said Paul M. Weber, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League that represents the LAPD’s rank-and-file officers. The union has filed another lawsuit on the issue in a different court.
The impact of Feess’ ruling on LAPD salaries remains to be seen. One attorney familiar with the case questioned whether officers worked enough hours each month to meet a threshold contained in the Fair Labor Act. But, with salaries starting at about $55,000 in the LAPD and officers arguing that the ruling should be retroactive, the implications are potentially large."
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“This is a huge deal,” said Paul M. Weber, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League that represents the LAPD’s rank-and-file officers. The union has filed another lawsuit on the issue in a different court.
The impact of Feess’ ruling on LAPD salaries remains to be seen. One attorney familiar with the case questioned whether officers worked enough hours each month to meet a threshold contained in the Fair Labor Act. But, with salaries starting at about $55,000 in the LAPD and officers arguing that the ruling should be retroactive, the implications are potentially large."
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Carson City, NV - SALARIES QUESTIONED: Pay for government workers in Nevada are straining budgets
BY FRANK GEARY
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
"At a legislative hearing last month, the leader of a government-employee union declared that the Democrats' crushing victory in November was a mandate for organized labor.
Since the election, however, the stock market has plummeted, Nevada's foreclosure and unemployment rates have skyrocketed to some of the highest in the country and state lawmakers -- who scoffed at Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons' budget cuts in January as severe, short-sighted and unnecessary -- are faced with a deficit that grew to about $900 million based on figures released May 1."
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
"At a legislative hearing last month, the leader of a government-employee union declared that the Democrats' crushing victory in November was a mandate for organized labor.
Since the election, however, the stock market has plummeted, Nevada's foreclosure and unemployment rates have skyrocketed to some of the highest in the country and state lawmakers -- who scoffed at Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons' budget cuts in January as severe, short-sighted and unnecessary -- are faced with a deficit that grew to about $900 million based on figures released May 1."
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Lansing, MI - State Police layoffs show how far we have fallen
BY PETER LUKE
MLIVE.COM
"A few dozen new Michigan State Police troopers milled outside a House committee room last week, hoping their presence might dissuade lawmakers from axing their jobs in June, per Gov. Jennifer Granholm's budget reduction order.
But while they have the power to stop a car doing 83 mph on I-96, the December graduates of the 121st Trooper Recruit School couldn't halt a budget vote that made their future uncertain."
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MLIVE.COM
"A few dozen new Michigan State Police troopers milled outside a House committee room last week, hoping their presence might dissuade lawmakers from axing their jobs in June, per Gov. Jennifer Granholm's budget reduction order.
But while they have the power to stop a car doing 83 mph on I-96, the December graduates of the 121st Trooper Recruit School couldn't halt a budget vote that made their future uncertain."
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Toledo, OH - The Toledo Municipal Strike of 1979: When chaos reigned
BY TOM HENRY
TOLEDO BLADE
"Thirty years ago, Toledo’s mayor and its City Council members were at an impasse with the city’s police and fire unions — much as they are today.
Back then, the disputes were over pay raises, benefits, and the number of police officers and firefighters assigned to each crew.
The impasse led to what many people viewed as an illegal walkout of 3,400 municipal employees on the morning of July 1, 1979. It occurred during the era of runaway inflation at the end of President Jimmy Carter’s administration, months after Chicago firefighters and Memphis police had gone on strike."
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TOLEDO BLADE
"Thirty years ago, Toledo’s mayor and its City Council members were at an impasse with the city’s police and fire unions — much as they are today.
Back then, the disputes were over pay raises, benefits, and the number of police officers and firefighters assigned to each crew.
The impasse led to what many people viewed as an illegal walkout of 3,400 municipal employees on the morning of July 1, 1979. It occurred during the era of runaway inflation at the end of President Jimmy Carter’s administration, months after Chicago firefighters and Memphis police had gone on strike."
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Toledo, OH - Mayor Wants 15% Pay Cuts
BY JC REINDL AND IGNAZIO MESSINA
TOLEDO BLADE
"Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner called Saturday for city employees in five unions to accept 15 percent pay cuts for a year.
He also vowed to return 40 percent of his $136,000 annual salary, which means he has offered to sacrifice $54,400.
The moves are the latest developments as the city attempts to close the $21.3 million shortfall in its general fund."
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TOLEDO BLADE
"Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner called Saturday for city employees in five unions to accept 15 percent pay cuts for a year.
He also vowed to return 40 percent of his $136,000 annual salary, which means he has offered to sacrifice $54,400.
The moves are the latest developments as the city attempts to close the $21.3 million shortfall in its general fund."
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Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Henderson, NV - negotiating to scrap cost-of-living raises
BY JEREMY TWITCHELL
THE LAS VEGAS SUN
"The Henderson City Council unanimously voted Tuesday night to scrap an automatic 3.5 percent raise for non-union supervisors and executives, while announcing that it had reached a tentative agreement with its police unions to do the same.
The increase for supervisors and executives was scheduled to go into place July 1. The council also voted to cancel a planned 0.66 percent increase in the matching contribution the city makes to those employees’ retirement accounts that was scheduled to begin Jan 1."
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THE LAS VEGAS SUN
"The Henderson City Council unanimously voted Tuesday night to scrap an automatic 3.5 percent raise for non-union supervisors and executives, while announcing that it had reached a tentative agreement with its police unions to do the same.
The increase for supervisors and executives was scheduled to go into place July 1. The council also voted to cancel a planned 0.66 percent increase in the matching contribution the city makes to those employees’ retirement accounts that was scheduled to begin Jan 1."
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Youngstown, OH - council ratifies pact with police to help avoid layoffs
THE VINDICATOR
"YOUNGSTOWN — City council ratified an early-retirement agreement with the union representing its ranking police officers that is expected to reduce, and possibly eliminate, job losses in that department.
The union will vote next week on a the plan that would give each participant a year’s base salary paid evenly over five years. Also, today, council gave approval to the police department to seek proposals to lease 160 Tasers for its police officers."
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"YOUNGSTOWN — City council ratified an early-retirement agreement with the union representing its ranking police officers that is expected to reduce, and possibly eliminate, job losses in that department.
The union will vote next week on a the plan that would give each participant a year’s base salary paid evenly over five years. Also, today, council gave approval to the police department to seek proposals to lease 160 Tasers for its police officers."
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Sunday, May 03, 2009
Tulsa, OK - Budget targets salaries: Taylor plans job cuts, unpaid furloughs
BY BRIAN BARBER AND P.J. LASSEK
TULSA WORLD
"Job cuts, unpaid employee furloughs, utility rate hikes, and police and fire academies are all part of the nearly $578 million budget plan Mayor Kathy Taylor delivered to the City Council on Thursday.
The total budget is $8 million — or 1.4 percent — less than last year.
The operating budget is $528 million, a 0.9 percent increase, and the capital budget is $49 million, a 20.3 percent decrease.
'Let me be very clear on one point: This is not my preferred budget,' Taylor told councilors. 'But the harsh reality is that this is a year of historic economic challenges.' Job cuts, unpaid employee furloughs, utility rate hikes, and police and fire academies are all part of the nearly $578 million budget plan Mayor Kathy Taylor delivered to the City Council on Thursday.
The total budget is $8 million — or 1.4 percent — less than last year.
The operating budget is $528 million, a 0.9 percent increase, and the capital budget is $49 million, a 20.3 percent decrease.
'Let me be very clear on one point: This is not my preferred budget,' Taylor told councilors. 'But the harsh reality is that this is a year of historic economic challenges.'"
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TULSA WORLD
"Job cuts, unpaid employee furloughs, utility rate hikes, and police and fire academies are all part of the nearly $578 million budget plan Mayor Kathy Taylor delivered to the City Council on Thursday.
The total budget is $8 million — or 1.4 percent — less than last year.
The operating budget is $528 million, a 0.9 percent increase, and the capital budget is $49 million, a 20.3 percent decrease.
'Let me be very clear on one point: This is not my preferred budget,' Taylor told councilors. 'But the harsh reality is that this is a year of historic economic challenges.' Job cuts, unpaid employee furloughs, utility rate hikes, and police and fire academies are all part of the nearly $578 million budget plan Mayor Kathy Taylor delivered to the City Council on Thursday.
The total budget is $8 million — or 1.4 percent — less than last year.
The operating budget is $528 million, a 0.9 percent increase, and the capital budget is $49 million, a 20.3 percent decrease.
'Let me be very clear on one point: This is not my preferred budget,' Taylor told councilors. 'But the harsh reality is that this is a year of historic economic challenges.'"
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Toledo, OH - Collision of forces created huge deficit
BY TOM TROY
TOLEDO BLADE
"Personnel perks the city can't afford, tax revenues that don't keep pace with the cost of city government, and a collapse in the national economy have come together simultaneously to create the perfect financial storm.
In the recent past, city officials have managed to tie the knots in the city's fraying financial ends enough to prevent dramatically affecting daily life in the city.
That ended yesterday when 75 Toledo police officers - one-sixth of the patrol ranks - were laid off, with more layoffs possible."
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TOLEDO BLADE
"Personnel perks the city can't afford, tax revenues that don't keep pace with the cost of city government, and a collapse in the national economy have come together simultaneously to create the perfect financial storm.
In the recent past, city officials have managed to tie the knots in the city's fraying financial ends enough to prevent dramatically affecting daily life in the city.
That ended yesterday when 75 Toledo police officers - one-sixth of the patrol ranks - were laid off, with more layoffs possible."
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Longmont, CO - City Says Negotiations Are Expensive
BY RACHEL CARTER
LONGMONT TIMES-CALL
"LONGMONT — City officials say bargaining with police and fire unions for their first-ever labor contracts is going to be a pricey process.
The city hired labor attorney Martin Semple to help with the bargaining process and set aside $40,000 for his services, money carried over from last year’s Longmont City Council contingency fund.
But, officials say, that won’t be the city’s only cost."
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LONGMONT TIMES-CALL
"LONGMONT — City officials say bargaining with police and fire unions for their first-ever labor contracts is going to be a pricey process.
The city hired labor attorney Martin Semple to help with the bargaining process and set aside $40,000 for his services, money carried over from last year’s Longmont City Council contingency fund.
But, officials say, that won’t be the city’s only cost."
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Plano, TX - Fire union's political clout grows
BY THEODORE KIM
DALLAS MORNING NEWS
"In the face of Plano's worst budget squeeze in years, one constituency seems almost impervious to talk of big cuts: the Fire Department.
Part of that is recognition of the department's critical nature and of those willing to put themselves in harm's way.
But the department also can credit the Plano Firefighters Association, which in its short political life has emerged as City Hall's most potent special interest."
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DALLAS MORNING NEWS
"In the face of Plano's worst budget squeeze in years, one constituency seems almost impervious to talk of big cuts: the Fire Department.
Part of that is recognition of the department's critical nature and of those willing to put themselves in harm's way.
But the department also can credit the Plano Firefighters Association, which in its short political life has emerged as City Hall's most potent special interest."
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Saturday, May 02, 2009
Newcastle County, DE - Police layoffs to begin in NCCo
BY ANGIE BASIOUNY
THE NEWS JOURNAL (DELAWARE)
"Layoffs will begin in the New Castle County Police Department, New Castle County Executive Chris Coons announced Friday, saying he was unable to reach an agreement with the police union over salary reductions.
The number of layoffs and positions that will be cut -- whether among patrol, detectives, support staff or personnel -- likely will be announced next week.
Coons was seeking a 5 percent pay cut from all of the county's roughly 1,500 employees as part of his plan to reduce the government's $40 million budget shortfall. More than 900 workers have agreed to the reduction, saving $3.1 million"
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THE NEWS JOURNAL (DELAWARE)
"Layoffs will begin in the New Castle County Police Department, New Castle County Executive Chris Coons announced Friday, saying he was unable to reach an agreement with the police union over salary reductions.
The number of layoffs and positions that will be cut -- whether among patrol, detectives, support staff or personnel -- likely will be announced next week.
Coons was seeking a 5 percent pay cut from all of the county's roughly 1,500 employees as part of his plan to reduce the government's $40 million budget shortfall. More than 900 workers have agreed to the reduction, saving $3.1 million"
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Boston, MA - Lawmakers Move to Save Quinn Bill
BY ANDREA ESTES AND MATT VISER
BOSTON GLOBE
"Last night, House lawmakers voted 101-to-40 to restore about $25 million to the budget to protect pay bonuses for police officers who hold college degrees.
The so-called Quinn Bill, passed in 1970, supplies salary boosts to police officers who earn a law enforcement, criminal justice, or law degree. The program typically costs taxpayers about $100 million a year, split equally between the state and local communities where the officers work.
Police unions were seeking $50 million in state funding, the same amount they got this year, and had secured 81 representatives to sign on to their cause"
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BOSTON GLOBE
"Last night, House lawmakers voted 101-to-40 to restore about $25 million to the budget to protect pay bonuses for police officers who hold college degrees.
The so-called Quinn Bill, passed in 1970, supplies salary boosts to police officers who earn a law enforcement, criminal justice, or law degree. The program typically costs taxpayers about $100 million a year, split equally between the state and local communities where the officers work.
Police unions were seeking $50 million in state funding, the same amount they got this year, and had secured 81 representatives to sign on to their cause"
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Toledo, OH - 75 Toledo police officers laid off in city cash crunch
Mayor, council at odds on fixing deficit
Mayor Carty Finkbeiner called on council members to cure the city budget deficit.
Mayor Carty Finkbeiner called on council members to cure the city budget deficit.
TOLEDO BLADE
"Seventy-five Toledo police officers turned in their badges and guns Friday as the city's elected officials spent most of the day pointing fingers at each other in blame for the layoffs and the city's budget crisis.
Mayor Carty Finkbeiner - who lowered the number of police layoffs from 150 - said it would be up to Toledo City Council to act swiftly and prevent another 75 officers, or more, from being laid off."
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"Seventy-five Toledo police officers turned in their badges and guns Friday as the city's elected officials spent most of the day pointing fingers at each other in blame for the layoffs and the city's budget crisis.
Mayor Carty Finkbeiner - who lowered the number of police layoffs from 150 - said it would be up to Toledo City Council to act swiftly and prevent another 75 officers, or more, from being laid off."
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WZTV FOX 17/Nashville
WZTV FOX 17/Nashville: "Metro employees would also see their salaries and bonuses frozen under the plan.
Something the Fraternal Order of Police says is going to be hard to take.
'It's very frustrating to officers who for the last 5 years have been successful in driving down crime and making the city safe to have to go through this,' said FOP President Robert Weaver.Metro employees would also see their salaries and bonuses frozen under the plan.
Something the Fraternal Order of Police says is going to be hard to take.
'It's very frustrating to officers who for the last 5 years have been successful in driving down crime and making the city safe to have to go through this,' said FOP President Robert Weaver."
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Something the Fraternal Order of Police says is going to be hard to take.
'It's very frustrating to officers who for the last 5 years have been successful in driving down crime and making the city safe to have to go through this,' said FOP President Robert Weaver.Metro employees would also see their salaries and bonuses frozen under the plan.
Something the Fraternal Order of Police says is going to be hard to take.
'It's very frustrating to officers who for the last 5 years have been successful in driving down crime and making the city safe to have to go through this,' said FOP President Robert Weaver."
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Youngstown, OH - Deal struck to lessen layoffs in Youngstown
DAVID SKOLNICK
THE VINDICATOR
Deal struck to lessen layoffs in Youngstown - Local & Regional News - Vindy.com, The Vindicator: "YOUNGSTOWN — City officials have reached an agreement in principle on an early-retirement buyout plan with a police union that could reduce the number of city workers losing their jobs.
The Youngstown Police Ranking Officers — which represents the department’s sergeants, detective sergeants, lieutenants and captains — and city council must approve the plan before it’s finalized, Mayor Jay Williams said."
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THE VINDICATOR
Deal struck to lessen layoffs in Youngstown - Local & Regional News - Vindy.com, The Vindicator: "YOUNGSTOWN — City officials have reached an agreement in principle on an early-retirement buyout plan with a police union that could reduce the number of city workers losing their jobs.
The Youngstown Police Ranking Officers — which represents the department’s sergeants, detective sergeants, lieutenants and captains — and city council must approve the plan before it’s finalized, Mayor Jay Williams said."
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Friday, May 01, 2009
Toledo, OH - Command officers win injunction
FOX TOLEDOCommand officers win injunction: "TOLEDO, Ohio - The City of Toledo will not be laying off Toledo Police command officers - at least not Friday.
Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Frederick McDonald ruled in favor of the Toledo Police Command Officers' Association in their request for an injunction regarding the laying off of 20 command personnel beginning May 1.
Friday morning's order reads, '...the City of Toledo and its agents are restrained from implementing the layoffs of the Toledo Police Command Officers' Association's bargaining unit members who were issued layoff notices on March 13 and April 17. It is further ordered that the defendant City of Toledo pay the costs of this action.'"
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Toledo, OH - 75 Toledo Police Officers saved from getting cut
BY DAVID CUSTER
NBC TOLEDO
75 Toledo Police Officers saved from getting cut : News : WNWO NBC24: "TOLEDO -- “I have listened to the community. I have listened to council.” Those are the words from Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner as he announces that he has saved 75 police officers from being cut. He said he directed Police Chief Mike Navarre to use a $1.4-million justice assistance grant immediately.
“This is certainly not a good thing but better than the loss of 150,' said Police Chief Mike Navarre. The Chief says this means the Gang Task Force will remain and the city will keep two SWAT units and maintain the current amount of patrol officers. However, the mounted patrols will still get cut."
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NBC TOLEDO
75 Toledo Police Officers saved from getting cut : News : WNWO NBC24: "TOLEDO -- “I have listened to the community. I have listened to council.” Those are the words from Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner as he announces that he has saved 75 police officers from being cut. He said he directed Police Chief Mike Navarre to use a $1.4-million justice assistance grant immediately.
“This is certainly not a good thing but better than the loss of 150,' said Police Chief Mike Navarre. The Chief says this means the Gang Task Force will remain and the city will keep two SWAT units and maintain the current amount of patrol officers. However, the mounted patrols will still get cut."
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Escondido, CA - Unions, city find common ground
BY ANGELA LAU
SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
"ESCONDIDO — Escondido's city manager and employee union leaders have had a rare meeting of minds. They each agreed to give up something to help close a $6.3 million budget gap in the coming fiscal year. In a conceptual deal that has to be ratified by the City Council"
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SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
"ESCONDIDO — Escondido's city manager and employee union leaders have had a rare meeting of minds. They each agreed to give up something to help close a $6.3 million budget gap in the coming fiscal year. In a conceptual deal that has to be ratified by the City Council"
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Stockton, CA - 55 cops to get layoff notices
BY DAVID SIDERS
RECORDNET.COM
"In the failed police talks, the administration and the Stockton Police Officers Association have for months feuded about how much of a raise officers are owed in addition to a 9.5 percent increase authorized last year.
At the Police Department, 'morale is kind of split,' interim Police Chief Blair Ulring said. He said many young officers feel they have little voice in the union and that the union does not have their best interest in mind. He said many older officers feel the union is justifiably seeking what it believes its officers are owed.
Officer Steve Leonesio, the union president, said Ulring's assessment is inaccurate and that the union's position has great support.
'I think he's out of touch with that,' Leonesio said. 'I think we're the strongest we've been.'"
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RECORDNET.COM
"In the failed police talks, the administration and the Stockton Police Officers Association have for months feuded about how much of a raise officers are owed in addition to a 9.5 percent increase authorized last year.
At the Police Department, 'morale is kind of split,' interim Police Chief Blair Ulring said. He said many young officers feel they have little voice in the union and that the union does not have their best interest in mind. He said many older officers feel the union is justifiably seeking what it believes its officers are owed.
Officer Steve Leonesio, the union president, said Ulring's assessment is inaccurate and that the union's position has great support.
'I think he's out of touch with that,' Leonesio said. 'I think we're the strongest we've been.'"
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Toledo, OH - Mayor Says There Was Never A Deal
BY IGNAZIO MESSINA AND TOM TROY
THE TODEDO BLADE
"Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner said Thursday there was never a tentative labor agreement reached earlier this week with the city’s patrolmen and accused the union’s president of misleading the public.
“Contrary to comments made by [Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association] President Dan Wagner, the city and TPPA never had an agreement on a new contract,” Mr. Finkbeiner said."
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THE TODEDO BLADE
"Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner said Thursday there was never a tentative labor agreement reached earlier this week with the city’s patrolmen and accused the union’s president of misleading the public.
“Contrary to comments made by [Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association] President Dan Wagner, the city and TPPA never had an agreement on a new contract,” Mr. Finkbeiner said."
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