05-24-2006, 05:28 PM
PBA members are top cops in budget war
FHP's union bemoans low pay while FDLE, others make gains
From The Tallahassee Democrat, May 4, 2006
Legislative money managers gave big bragging rights to the Police Benevolent Association in its power struggle with the union representing Florida Highway Patrol troopers and most other state police agents.
In the $71 billion deal for the fiscal year starting July 1, which lawmakers are set to approve Friday, legislators heavily favored the prison, probation and FDLE officers represented by PBA over officers represented by the the International Union of Police Association, including state troopers.
IUPA leaders put up a billboard proclaiming “Tourists enter at your own risk” near the southbound start of Florida's turnpike. The sign near Wildwood warns that the state cops are among the nation's lowest-paid.
It's a risky tactic, as past pressure attempts by other groups, targeting tourism or citrus industries, have only hardened resistance in the Capitol. But IUPA's state chairman said her union couldn't let its members get stiffed without speaking up.
IUPA chief Kathy Merritt said the union plans similar billboards at the state lines and along Interstate 4.
“The billboards are simply about letting the people of Florida know the reality and results of our lawmakers' decisions,” she said. “ 'Pay attention to who you vote for and put in office' is the moral of the story.”
Merritt said the FHP lost 45 troopers in the first quarter, the state fire marshal and bomb investigator's office lost eight last month and the Fish and Wildlife Commission is losing about seven just in the Palm Beach-Miami Dade area because of salaries. She said Fish and Wildlife officers like herself, with more than 10 years of service in southeast Florida, commonly make $33,000 a year - little more than rookies they help break in.
“The state law enforcement officers are simply tired of working two and three jobs to make ends meet,” she said.
IUPA defeated the PBA in a union election six years ago and held off a PBA challenge in 2003, but the PBA filed enough petition cards March 1 to call a rematch. The state's Public Employee Relations Commission is expected to mail out about 2,900 ballots to law-enforcement officers next month.
The PBA still represents Florida Department of Law Enforcement special agents and the state's prison guards and correctional probation officers. A key issue in the new union election is a PBA promise to split off about 1,600 FHP troopers in their own bargaining unit - which IUPA contends would weaken the bargaining position of officers in the Departments of Environmental Protection, Juvenile Justice, Transportation, Business and Professional Regulation and a few other agencies.
While IUPA planned its billboard protests, the PBA proclaimed victory in getting “compression pay” packages for FDLE agents, correctional officers and probation officers. David Murrell, state director of the PBA, said legislators put about $12 million into the budget to give those officers more than the 3-percent pay raises all state employees will get on Oct. 1 in the budget.
The “compression” problem results when the state raises starting salaries to compete with county and city police agencies or jails - meaning an officer with three to five years' service makes the same, or little more, than a rookie. Both unions have been seeking solutions.
“We've just been trying to chip away at it, year after year, while IUPA tried to do it all at once,” Murrell said. “They went for $38 million and we just tried for $11 million or $12 million. It took years to get into this hole and it will take three or four to get out.”
The budget provides $3,000 pay bumps for FDLE agents with three years' service, along with a 2 percent performance raise. FDLE agents would get $5,000 after six years' of service, $4,000 at 10 years and $3,000 at 16 years.
Capitol Police officers, who are represented by IUPA but are under FDLE, would get $500 per year of service with a maximum of $5,000 plus 2 percent performance additions. In the prison system, correctional and probation officers with five years of service will get 2 percent in addition to the 3 percent raise all state employees get and those with 10 years service will get 3 percent on top of the regular pay increase.
“I feel that they have neglected the state law-enforcement officers, as a whole,” said FHP Trooper Brian Speigner, IUPA vice chairman for legislative affairs. “I would like to know why they have not appropriated money for all of the officers, when we have worked diligently with management and with the members for this.”
__________________________
I have been one of the first to defend IUPA, but I am having a really hard time. Kathy Merritt works tirelessly, selfeshly without much thanks. Her efforts have been heroic, but she can't do it all. I just wanted to put that in about kathy before I continue with what I want to say.
I am beginning to have serious doubts about IUPA's ability to bargain for us. Am I the only one? I am going to vote for PBA this time. I am not confident that IUPA is going to be able to change our current pay crisis.
Yes, I realize that PBA is a "good ole boy" agency and that they have probably blocked some of IUPA's efforts where our pay is concerned, but whatever the reason, it is not working. Maybe the "good ole boy" approach is what works in Tallahasee. At this point I do not care who I pay my dues to as long as I get more money.
What do you think?
FHP's union bemoans low pay while FDLE, others make gains
From The Tallahassee Democrat, May 4, 2006
Legislative money managers gave big bragging rights to the Police Benevolent Association in its power struggle with the union representing Florida Highway Patrol troopers and most other state police agents.
In the $71 billion deal for the fiscal year starting July 1, which lawmakers are set to approve Friday, legislators heavily favored the prison, probation and FDLE officers represented by PBA over officers represented by the the International Union of Police Association, including state troopers.
IUPA leaders put up a billboard proclaiming “Tourists enter at your own risk” near the southbound start of Florida's turnpike. The sign near Wildwood warns that the state cops are among the nation's lowest-paid.
It's a risky tactic, as past pressure attempts by other groups, targeting tourism or citrus industries, have only hardened resistance in the Capitol. But IUPA's state chairman said her union couldn't let its members get stiffed without speaking up.
IUPA chief Kathy Merritt said the union plans similar billboards at the state lines and along Interstate 4.
“The billboards are simply about letting the people of Florida know the reality and results of our lawmakers' decisions,” she said. “ 'Pay attention to who you vote for and put in office' is the moral of the story.”
Merritt said the FHP lost 45 troopers in the first quarter, the state fire marshal and bomb investigator's office lost eight last month and the Fish and Wildlife Commission is losing about seven just in the Palm Beach-Miami Dade area because of salaries. She said Fish and Wildlife officers like herself, with more than 10 years of service in southeast Florida, commonly make $33,000 a year - little more than rookies they help break in.
“The state law enforcement officers are simply tired of working two and three jobs to make ends meet,” she said.
IUPA defeated the PBA in a union election six years ago and held off a PBA challenge in 2003, but the PBA filed enough petition cards March 1 to call a rematch. The state's Public Employee Relations Commission is expected to mail out about 2,900 ballots to law-enforcement officers next month.
The PBA still represents Florida Department of Law Enforcement special agents and the state's prison guards and correctional probation officers. A key issue in the new union election is a PBA promise to split off about 1,600 FHP troopers in their own bargaining unit - which IUPA contends would weaken the bargaining position of officers in the Departments of Environmental Protection, Juvenile Justice, Transportation, Business and Professional Regulation and a few other agencies.
While IUPA planned its billboard protests, the PBA proclaimed victory in getting “compression pay” packages for FDLE agents, correctional officers and probation officers. David Murrell, state director of the PBA, said legislators put about $12 million into the budget to give those officers more than the 3-percent pay raises all state employees will get on Oct. 1 in the budget.
The “compression” problem results when the state raises starting salaries to compete with county and city police agencies or jails - meaning an officer with three to five years' service makes the same, or little more, than a rookie. Both unions have been seeking solutions.
“We've just been trying to chip away at it, year after year, while IUPA tried to do it all at once,” Murrell said. “They went for $38 million and we just tried for $11 million or $12 million. It took years to get into this hole and it will take three or four to get out.”
The budget provides $3,000 pay bumps for FDLE agents with three years' service, along with a 2 percent performance raise. FDLE agents would get $5,000 after six years' of service, $4,000 at 10 years and $3,000 at 16 years.
Capitol Police officers, who are represented by IUPA but are under FDLE, would get $500 per year of service with a maximum of $5,000 plus 2 percent performance additions. In the prison system, correctional and probation officers with five years of service will get 2 percent in addition to the 3 percent raise all state employees get and those with 10 years service will get 3 percent on top of the regular pay increase.
“I feel that they have neglected the state law-enforcement officers, as a whole,” said FHP Trooper Brian Speigner, IUPA vice chairman for legislative affairs. “I would like to know why they have not appropriated money for all of the officers, when we have worked diligently with management and with the members for this.”
__________________________
I have been one of the first to defend IUPA, but I am having a really hard time. Kathy Merritt works tirelessly, selfeshly without much thanks. Her efforts have been heroic, but she can't do it all. I just wanted to put that in about kathy before I continue with what I want to say.
I am beginning to have serious doubts about IUPA's ability to bargain for us. Am I the only one? I am going to vote for PBA this time. I am not confident that IUPA is going to be able to change our current pay crisis.
Yes, I realize that PBA is a "good ole boy" agency and that they have probably blocked some of IUPA's efforts where our pay is concerned, but whatever the reason, it is not working. Maybe the "good ole boy" approach is what works in Tallahasee. At this point I do not care who I pay my dues to as long as I get more money.
What do you think?