NewsHound
09-11-2008, 02:38 AM
After months of negotiations, leaders of the Hollywood police union are declaring an impasse in contract talks, saying the city isn't making its officers and their safety a priority.
Leaders of the Broward County Police Benevolent Association say they are walking away from the negotiation table and the matter could ultimately head to a public showdown with city commissioners--some of whom were elected with the union's help.
"Not one of the city proposals is even marginally acceptable," union representative Lt. Jeff Marano wrote in his letter to the city declaring the impasse.
The union is balking on a long list of proposals the city has issued since contract negotiations began in May. Attorney Paul Ryder, who is heading negotiations on behalf of the city, said today the proposals repond to tough economic times and voter-mandated tax cuts.
Chief among the union's objections is a call for freezing officers' salaries and making them pay more for their health benefits and pensions. Other proposals make major changes to the early retirement program, have officers pay more money to take home city-issued vehicles, and start a random drug and alcohol testing program and mandatory annual physicals.
Union attorney Barbara Duffy said today the issue could be settled before a magistrate, or it could be brought up at the Hollywood City Commission.
Ryder said today there's been no decision yet on how to move forward. He vowed to continue negotiations in hopes of resolving the matter before the police contract expires on Oct. 1.
"The first immediate impact will be morale," Marano said today. The city blames tax cuts, he said, "yet other cities are finding ways to make it work."
Since May, City Manager Cameron Benson has been saying pension, health benefits and wages need to be revisited with all the unions in order to make ends meet. On par with most large cities, Hollywood spends about 77 percent of its budget on salaries and benefits for its 1,485 employees.
Source (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-hollywood0910,0,6080220.story)
Leaders of the Broward County Police Benevolent Association say they are walking away from the negotiation table and the matter could ultimately head to a public showdown with city commissioners--some of whom were elected with the union's help.
"Not one of the city proposals is even marginally acceptable," union representative Lt. Jeff Marano wrote in his letter to the city declaring the impasse.
The union is balking on a long list of proposals the city has issued since contract negotiations began in May. Attorney Paul Ryder, who is heading negotiations on behalf of the city, said today the proposals repond to tough economic times and voter-mandated tax cuts.
Chief among the union's objections is a call for freezing officers' salaries and making them pay more for their health benefits and pensions. Other proposals make major changes to the early retirement program, have officers pay more money to take home city-issued vehicles, and start a random drug and alcohol testing program and mandatory annual physicals.
Union attorney Barbara Duffy said today the issue could be settled before a magistrate, or it could be brought up at the Hollywood City Commission.
Ryder said today there's been no decision yet on how to move forward. He vowed to continue negotiations in hopes of resolving the matter before the police contract expires on Oct. 1.
"The first immediate impact will be morale," Marano said today. The city blames tax cuts, he said, "yet other cities are finding ways to make it work."
Since May, City Manager Cameron Benson has been saying pension, health benefits and wages need to be revisited with all the unions in order to make ends meet. On par with most large cities, Hollywood spends about 77 percent of its budget on salaries and benefits for its 1,485 employees.
Source (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-hollywood0910,0,6080220.story)