Miami-Dade police union, county moving closer to contract

[NewsHound]

From MiamiHerald.com

With threatened layoffs shelved for now, Miami-Dade’s police union and county administrators agreed Tuesday on several minor provisions of a new contract and will begin mulling ways to trim about $70 million more from the budget.

High on the look-at list: 10 unpaid furlough days.

Both sides said they viewed Tuesday’s public session at Miami-Dade County Hall — jam-packed with hundreds of officers and supporters — as a step forward while they prepare for another bargaining round Friday morning.

Earlier this month, Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who is seeking to slash $239 million from the county’s budget, had said he would issue layoff notices to 90 officers if a new cost-cutting contract was not reached by Monday.

But after the county struck a tentative deal with firefighters last week, administrators agreed to hold off on issuing the pink slips. The county is seeking a cut of 21 percent in police salary and benefits.

On Tuesday morning, hundreds of Police Benevolent Association members and supporters crowded into a sweltering 18th-floor conference room and spilled out into the hallway.

Many wore blue union T-shirts emblazoned with the words: “We Fight What You Fear.” Even several “Occupy Miami” protestors, camped outside County Hall, showed up with signs of support for the police officers.

Miami-Dade Police Director Jim Loftus, dressed in uniform, showed up a few minutes late to rousing applause and “thank-you” cries from the rank-and-file. “I’ve never been so well received for being so late in my life,” he joked.

The negotiations went smoothly. The PBA — which represents Miami-Dade police, corrections and animal services employees — and the county agreed on several key contract points regarding officer promotional exams, drug tests and job descriptions.

More importantly, the county presented a list of proposed cost-cutting measures that could help avoid layoffs or rolling back previous pay raises.

Among the proposals: scaling back a series of pay boosts given to officers for hazard duty, night duty, court time and maintaining state credentials, and mandating that officers pay up to $75 a month for take-home patrol cars. The county also proposed 10 unpaid furlough days.

“There is creative stuff we can work with,” said PBA President John Rivera, who added that Tuesday’s negotiations yielded more in 90 minutes than several weeks of earlier talks.

Said Miami-Dade Deputy Mayor Chip Iglesias: “Today we made a lot of progress.”

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/18/v ... z1bFY3yiLx

After Friday's session, they still want another 30+ million!
Vote not only NO, but F--K NO! When it comes to a vote...

Yes Dude, that will work?????