06-25-2007, 11:13 AM
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 29 Labor Boards and the Florida Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council have erected two billboards in Pasco County in their bid for a fair contract. These billboards are directed toward the public in an informational campaign. Deputies and Supervisors overwhelmingly voted to unionize in March, 2006 and have been negotiating to obtain a fair contract from Sheriff White since that time. An impasse occurred after Sheriff White's final offer failed to provide for job security issues.
The billboards are located in Port Richey and Wesley Chapel. The Port Richey billboard is located on US 19 northbound, directly east of the Gulf View Square Mall. The Wesley Chapel billboard is located on SR 54 near Saddlebrook.
The message is clear; "Support your Deputies, THE SHERIFF WON'T."
Deputies have also set up a website detailing their struggle for a fair contract (www.supportyourdeputies.com (http://www.supportyourdeputies.com)).
Also, an Unfair Labor Practice has been filed against Sheriff White by the Fraternal Order of Police. The Unfair Labor Practice was filed with PERC in Tallahassee last month, and focuses on the unwillingness of the Sheriff to allow basic communication between the deputies and their union.
Additionally, deputies invite the public to attend a joint informational picketing session and rally with the deputies and the Pasco County Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 4420 Labor Unions at the West Pasco County Courthouse on Little Road in New Port Richey on Tuesday, 06/26/07 beginning at 4:00 PM. This rally, a joint effort by your first responders of Pasco County, will feature James Preston, the President of the State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, as well as Chuck Canterbury, the National President of the Fraternal Order of Police.
The Fraternal Order of Police is the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 324,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges. We are the voice of those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities. We are committed to improving the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those we serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement, and employee representation. No one knows the dangers and the difficulties faced by today's police officers better than another officer, and no one knows police officers better than the FOP.
John Connolly,
President of the Deputies Labor Union
The billboards are located in Port Richey and Wesley Chapel. The Port Richey billboard is located on US 19 northbound, directly east of the Gulf View Square Mall. The Wesley Chapel billboard is located on SR 54 near Saddlebrook.
The message is clear; "Support your Deputies, THE SHERIFF WON'T."
Deputies have also set up a website detailing their struggle for a fair contract (www.supportyourdeputies.com (http://www.supportyourdeputies.com)).
Also, an Unfair Labor Practice has been filed against Sheriff White by the Fraternal Order of Police. The Unfair Labor Practice was filed with PERC in Tallahassee last month, and focuses on the unwillingness of the Sheriff to allow basic communication between the deputies and their union.
Additionally, deputies invite the public to attend a joint informational picketing session and rally with the deputies and the Pasco County Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 4420 Labor Unions at the West Pasco County Courthouse on Little Road in New Port Richey on Tuesday, 06/26/07 beginning at 4:00 PM. This rally, a joint effort by your first responders of Pasco County, will feature James Preston, the President of the State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, as well as Chuck Canterbury, the National President of the Fraternal Order of Police.
The Fraternal Order of Police is the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 324,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges. We are the voice of those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities. We are committed to improving the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those we serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement, and employee representation. No one knows the dangers and the difficulties faced by today's police officers better than another officer, and no one knows police officers better than the FOP.
John Connolly,
President of the Deputies Labor Union