Recent Developments In Public Safety Labor Relations

ATLANTA, GA – The leader of Atlanta’s police union apologized Thursday for telling City Council members he sometimes wants to beat Mayor Shirley Franklin “in the head with a baseball bat” when he thinks about problems disabled officers have getting workers’ compensation claims approved.

“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.

Kreher said the problems began about five years ago when the city turned the management of those claims over to a third party.

He said five “catastrophically injured” officers, including Pat Cocciolone, who was shot in the head in a 1997 ambush that left another officer dead, and J.J. Biello, who was paralyzed when he was shot during a restaurant robbery in 1987, have routinely had claims for medication delayed by NovaPro Risk Solutions.

Former Atlanta police officer Mike McCain, who suffered a career-ending back injury in the 1997 ambush, understands Kreher’s frustration.

McCain, a former Atlanta police union president, says he needs weekly injections. But by Sunday, he’ll be out of the drug he needs. And he says NovaPro Risk Solutions is to blame.

Representatives of NovaPro had no comment.

The mayor was out of town Wednesday, and her office released a statement calling Kreher’s remarks deplorable.

Atlanta police Chief Richard Pennington was not available for comment Thursday afternoon.

Police, Fire Layoffs In Delaware

WILMINGTON, DE – Last-minute negotiations between the city and its police and fire unions stalled Wednesday, setting up a vote on next year's budget by City Council tonight that includes layoffs of 17 police officers and eight firefighters.

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.

But the firefighters union and the rank-and-file police officers' bargaining unit have rejected it, saying there is too much fat in other areas of the budget to justify the request.

That puts the 13 council members in the position of voting for a $145 million budget that will include double-digit hikes to property taxes and water-sewer fees, but will offer the taxpayers fewer police officers and firefighters to protect them. The proposals are all part of an effort to stave off an estimated $21.5 million shortfall.

"This is without a doubt the most difficult vote I'll ever have to make," said Councilman Sam Prado, who is in his fifth year in office. Prado said he's undecided, but is leaning toward approving the budget because state and New Castle County employees, as well as many private-sector workers, are facing worse scenarios than city employees.

"Given what's happening elsewhere, I don't think it's a bad deal," he said. "I don't know why the police and fire unions aren't accepting it."

The presidents of the police and fire unions say layoffs would hurt response times and make the city less safe. The police and fire chiefs said service would not be affected by the cuts.

Firefighters' Union President Kevin Turner said the layoffs, in addition to the city's planned "rolling bypass," a move to shut down one engine truck each day to cut down on overtime, could have catastrophic results.

"We'll be down from 38 to 34 people protecting the city at any given time," he said. "If our response time is delayed by even 30 seconds, which I think it could be, that could be the difference between someone hanging from a window of a burning building being rescued or dying. That's what it could come down to."

Fire Chief Willie Patrick said the department generally makes it to a fire call in about two-and-a-half minutes and does not see that changing with eight fewer firefighters.

"We're going to make up for having fewer people and on less trucks by reorganizing how and where we staff the platoons in the different stations," he said. "Response times and safety of our citizens will not be compromised."

Police Union President George Collins said the proposed layoffs of his members will result in at least three fewer officers per patrol shift.

"A fact of life in Wilmington is that when summer hits, people come out of their houses and commit more crimes, so we obviously won't be able to do as good a job," he said.

Police Chief Michael Szczerba wouldn't say how many fewer officers would be on the streets, but disputed Collins numbers, saying all departments would take hits, not just the patrol division.

"As always, I will remain dynamic and we'll make adjustments weekly, or hourly if necessary," Szczerba said. "I refuse to allow financial circumstances to control the destiny of this department."

Councilwoman Loretta Walsh, chair of the council's public safety committee, said she will vote against the budget tonight because she agrees with the police and fire unions' leadership that cuts could have been made in other departments, including the office of economic development.

"But I'm not sure if fire and police services will suffer because of the cuts," she said. "Until we're slapped in the face with the results, all that would be is speculation."

Leaders from the police and fire unions met with top Baker officials Wednesday to come up with a compromise. Collins said he offered ways to cut the police budget without having to lay off officers, but would not provide specifics. Turner said he suggested not allowing 15 vehicles issued to firefighters to be taken home each day, which is the current practice.

Both union leaders said the city wasn't interested in their ideas and that all they want to hear is that the unions will accept a wage freeze.

"The city proposed no new ideas and didn't seriously listen to ours," Collins said. "We talked but it wasn't a negotiation. They say their door is open, but it's only open in case we want to cave in to their request."

Rago said the city's discussions with police union were "positive," but would not comment on how the session with the firefighters went.

The city would be willing to accept a change of heart by the two unions at any time, even it if happens after the budget vote. The council could re-open the budget before the fiscal year begins and change it to reflect the $1.4 million in savings that would occur if the wage freezes went into effect.

"The mayor's position all along has been that he doesn't want layoffs," Rago said. "Any time the unions say they'll go along with no pay increases, we'll go that route."

That is a departure from previous statements Rago has issued to the press on Baker's behalf. The statements have included hard deadlines that have come and gone with no layoff notices going out. The tactic irritates Turner and Collins.

"They've drawn more than one line in the sand and have jumped behind it each time," Collins said. "I'll guarantee you this: If the budget fails, the administration will be the ones calling us first asking to get back to us with new ideas."

Rago said the city changed its mind about sending out layoff notices at the end of last week, when it said it would, because they thought it would be better to wait until after council votes on the budget tonight.

"We felt that issuing the notices as originally planned could inflame the unions that were still considering their final positions and we felt that sending notices with such uncertain terms would cause stress for employees who are already stressed in any type of layoff environment," Rago said.

The council will vote on the budget tonight at the Louis L. Redding City-County Building, Eighth and French streets. The meeting begins with a public-comment session at 6 p.m.

SFPD To Investigate Union Head For Using Foul Language

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The brass at the SFPD is making sure you can’t call a supervisor a moron and get away with it.

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.”

That came after the SF Weekly published expletive-laced comments from Delagnes about the shooting of Oscar Grant by BART Police in Oakland.

Delagnes is the latest high-profile cop to be served by the department’s internal affairs as the Police Commission searches for a replacement for Chief Heather Fong. Deputy Chief Greg Suhr was demoted for allegedly failing to report a domestic violence incident and rumors abound that another candidate for chief is under investigation.

Delagnes, whose brash language and unbridled criticism has made him the perfect foil to the quiet and reserved leadership of Chief Heather Fong, said he isn’t worried too much.

"As the head of the union, I have every right to speak my mind," Delagnes said.

Of course, he’s appealing the charges.

L.A. police union wants San Diego Union-Tribune editorial writers fired

The union representing Los Angeles police officers is pressuring the owner of San Diego's biggest newspaper to change the paper's editorial stance on labor issues or to fire its editorial writers.

The feud is rooted in the recent purchase of the San Diego Union-Tribune by Platinum Equity, a private Beverly Hills firm.

Platinum relies on a $30-million investment from the pension fund of Los Angeles police officers and firefighters, along with large sums from other public-employee pension systems across the state, to help fund its acquisitions of companies. As Los Angeles Police Protective League President Paul M. Weber views it, that makes the League part owner in the flagging Union-Tribune -- and League officials are none too happy with the paper's consistent position that San Diego lawmakers should cut back on salaries and benefits for public employees to help close gaping budget deficits.

"Since the very public employees they continually criticize are now their owners, we strongly believe that those who currently run the editorial pages should be replaced," Weber wrote in a March 26 letter to Platinum Chief Executive Tom Gores.

Weber, in an interview, emphasized that the League is not demanding changes in the paper's news coverage or in its staff of reporters. "It's just these people on the opinion side. There is not even an attempt to be even-handed. They're one step away from saying, 'These public employees are parasites,' " he said.

Bob Kittle, editor of the Union-Tribune's editorial page, rebuffed Weber's comments. Although his staff has written several editorials critical of the benefits and pension commitments city leaders have made to San Diego's five public employee unions, he denied Weber's charge that the paper is out to hurt public employees.

"We are not anti-public safety or public employee," he said. "All of this has to be considered within the context of what the city can afford. A bankrupt city can't provide any public safety very well."

Kittle said no one at Platinum or higher-ups at the paper had contacted him about the union's request.

In a recent interview with the Union-Tribune, a Platinum executive indicated that the League was wasting its time.

"Platinum has no editorial agenda," he said. "We will rely on the newspaper's professional staff to ensure that its pages appropriately reflect the values of the community it serves."

Baltimore Firefighter unions sound alarm over recent cuts

BALTIMORE, MD – The city's firefighter unions have stepped up pressure on Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon to reverse proposed cuts to the Fire Department, airing a radio ad that says the budget would increase response times to emergencies.

The department is one of the hardest-hit agencies in the proposed budget, absorbing $3 million in cuts that would result in the closures of two fire companies - essentially, two fire apparatuses would be shut down and its firefighters reassigned within the agency. City officials note that no one would be laid off and that no firehouses would close permanently, though houses would close on a rotating basis to reduce spending on overtime.

In the ad, which features a mock 911 call, someone calls to report a fire and is told by the dispatcher that the units will take longer to respond because the fire company closest to the caller's home has been closed. Union officials said they borrowed the idea from Philadelphia, where firefighters are mounting a similar battle against the closure of seven companies.

"It's our view that any reduction in services will compromise our ability to do our jobs, as well as put our members in jeopardy," said Capt. Stephan G. Fugate, president of the fire officers union. "It's simply ludicrous to think you can close fire units and it won't have any impact on response times."

The ad represents the latest move by the fire unions to call attention to the cuts, after a protest Monday in front of City Hall. Bob Sledgeski, president of the firefighters' union Local 734, wrote on his blog that members have distributed 15,000 fliers to residents and mailed information about closures to local businesses and state and federal politicians.

Asked about the radio ad, Chief Kevin Cartwright, a Fire Department spokesman, said it is "really sad that they have to portray our department, our services and our members in that light."

"The entire city is confronted with a serious budget crisis, and every city agency has to cut their budget to some degree," Cartwright said. "Where other fire departments are laying members off, every one of our members can look forward to coming to work every day."

The cuts call for a ladder truck in downtown and an engine in West Baltimore to be shut down. Fire Chief James S. Clack said the truck will be replaced with medic units, which are in higher demand. He said the city still has 55 fire companies in service across the city. "That's good coverage," Clack said.

Ryan O'Doherty, a spokesman for City Council President Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake, said council members are concerned that the effect on response times could be worse than anticipated and are working to restore funding.

Orlando Firefighters Paid Overtime To Be Laid Off

ORANGE COUNTY, FL – The City of Orlando spent money to save money. The city is cutting 342 jobs and 72 of them are firefighters' positions.

Eyewitness News learned that the city called in some of the firefighters on overtime just to lay them off.

It's costing taxpayers close to $3,000 for a one and a half hour meeting, which may not seem like a lot, but some say it's the principal of the matter.

There were 47 Orlando firefighters summoned at 6:00am last Wednesday and were told to report to the Orlando Fire Department Training Center for a meeting at 8:00am.

They were given possible layoff notices. Firefighter Josh Stewart said people from all different shifts were affected.

"A lot of the guys were coming off duty or were off," he said.

According to union policy, when firefighters are called into duty, it's an automatic four hours of overtime.

Eyewitness News obtained internal documents that showed 27 out of 47 firefighters were paid a total of almost $3,000 in overtime to receive the news.

"Its a slap in the face to tell guys you don't have the money, your going to lose your jobs and then spend thousand of dollars to tell them," said Firefighter's Union President Steve Clelland.

342 citywide positions were eliminated. 222 city employees were also given the same news as the firefighters.

The city defends paying the employees overtime and said it was necessary. Officials did not want employees to learn about the layoffs through the media.

Atlanta Police Union head sorry for baseball bat remark

Police, Fire Layoffs In Delaware

SFPD To Investigate Union Head For Using Foul Language

L.A. police union wants San Diego Union-Tribune editorial writers fired

Baltimore Firefighter unions sound alarm over recent cuts

Orlando Firefighters Paid Overtime To Be Laid Off