03-18-2008, 02:29 PM
sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbpolice0318sbmar18,0,2642419.story
South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Police call for firing of Fort Lauderdale manager, top assistant
Union votes no confidence in Fort Lauderdale manager
By Brittany Wallman
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
March 18, 2008
FORT LAUDERDALE
Police officers took on city leaders Monday, calling for the resignation or firing of the city manager and one of his top assistants.
The vote of no confidence was a change in tactics on the part of the local Fraternal Order of Police union that's been at loggerheads with city rulers for almost a year, trying to get a new contract.
Sgt. Jack Lokeinsky held a news conference Monday to announce patrol officers, sergeants, lieutenants and assistant chiefs voted 398 to six, citing their lack of confidence in City Manager George Gretsas. They voted 397 to seven backing a no-confidence vote regarding Assistant City Manager David Hébert. Hébert works closely with the Police Department and the chief, and both report to Gretsas.
In their fight for a new contract and a salary increase, Lokeinsky and the officers have held rallies, paid for a billboard, bought newspaper ads and gone to community groups since the contract expired on Oct. 1.
Negotiations had started the previous spring, but the two sides cannot agree. Lokeinsky previously blamed a high rate of officer departures and thin staffing on a low salary scale in comparison to other departments.
On Monday, he said it's no longer about money; the officers want Gretsas gone. Gretsas was hired in 2004.
"Retire, resign, quit. Leave the city of Fort Lauderdale," Lokeinsky said.
City spokesman Ted Lawson countered that "this is just something that the unions do during contract negotiations to get attention."
A survey of other agencies in South Florida, compiled by the city, showed that Fort Lauderdale's 7.6 percent rate in unfilled jobs is lower than that of Boca Raton, Davie, Miami and Hallandale Beach, but higher than some other departments like West Palm Beach, Hollywood and Sunrise.
City commissioners have met numerous times about the contract, and the latest offer they made to the police was a two-year contract with 5 percent raises each year. But the deal was contingent on changes to the police pension fund, which is kept whole by taxpayers.
Copyright © 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Police call for firing of Fort Lauderdale manager, top assistant
Union votes no confidence in Fort Lauderdale manager
By Brittany Wallman
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
March 18, 2008
FORT LAUDERDALE
Police officers took on city leaders Monday, calling for the resignation or firing of the city manager and one of his top assistants.
The vote of no confidence was a change in tactics on the part of the local Fraternal Order of Police union that's been at loggerheads with city rulers for almost a year, trying to get a new contract.
Sgt. Jack Lokeinsky held a news conference Monday to announce patrol officers, sergeants, lieutenants and assistant chiefs voted 398 to six, citing their lack of confidence in City Manager George Gretsas. They voted 397 to seven backing a no-confidence vote regarding Assistant City Manager David Hébert. Hébert works closely with the Police Department and the chief, and both report to Gretsas.
In their fight for a new contract and a salary increase, Lokeinsky and the officers have held rallies, paid for a billboard, bought newspaper ads and gone to community groups since the contract expired on Oct. 1.
Negotiations had started the previous spring, but the two sides cannot agree. Lokeinsky previously blamed a high rate of officer departures and thin staffing on a low salary scale in comparison to other departments.
On Monday, he said it's no longer about money; the officers want Gretsas gone. Gretsas was hired in 2004.
"Retire, resign, quit. Leave the city of Fort Lauderdale," Lokeinsky said.
City spokesman Ted Lawson countered that "this is just something that the unions do during contract negotiations to get attention."
A survey of other agencies in South Florida, compiled by the city, showed that Fort Lauderdale's 7.6 percent rate in unfilled jobs is lower than that of Boca Raton, Davie, Miami and Hallandale Beach, but higher than some other departments like West Palm Beach, Hollywood and Sunrise.
City commissioners have met numerous times about the contract, and the latest offer they made to the police was a two-year contract with 5 percent raises each year. But the deal was contingent on changes to the police pension fund, which is kept whole by taxpayers.
Copyright © 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel