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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Flint's EM says he will impose contracts on two unions
by Dan Armstrong
Posted: 04.20.2012 at 5:15 PM
Dan Armstrong
Dan Armstrong is a news anchor and reporter with NBC25.
Flint's emergency manager will unveil the city's budget Monday, but already it's being met with fear and concern that police officers could lose their jobs.
Police officers fear the worst, believing several of them could get pink-slipped.
Emergency Manager Mike Brown says he's being forced to make drastic decisions.
The emergency manager and two city unions, the Flint Police Officers Association and AFSCME Local 1600, have not come to an agreement.
Mike Brown gave them until Friday, and he says time's up.
"We will have to impose the 19(k)," says Brown.
It's the power to throw out the old contract and impose a new one to Flint police officers and other city workers.
No word yet whether that will bring layoffs.
Flint resident Marjorie Myles says, "If the foundation is not set, the house will fall. The house will fall, and so we need to start looking at the top and start cutting from the top."
Flint's Sherri Armstrong says, "There goes Flint again. More robberies, more killings, more breaking and enterings, people aren't going to feel safe."
Four of the six city unions have settled tentative contracts, with one of them still to be voted on by the membership.
The firefighter's union gave up 20% in total concessions.
"Our compensation package was considerable. It will impact them directly and in the longterm, and I feel real strong that they will hold firm with the contract to us going forward as far as our manpower goes," says Trent Farnsworth, Flint Firefighters Local 352 president.
However, the police officers union says it was not offered that deal but rather a 30% cut, which it turned down.
Flint Police Officers Association President Kevin Smith says, "At this point we're going to continue to remain open and negotiate something fair and come to an agreement to keep the staffing levels where they are to keep citizens and officers in safety
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Mike Brown says he appreciates the unions who have signed contracts. He says this is "the worst budget that the city has had to put forward," but that it's the only way to bridge a $25-million shortfall.
Last edited by untanglingwebs on Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:08 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:43 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| The deficit has grown $10 million under Brown. Meanwhile Brown gets rid of some walling appointees, but hires his cronies at higher salaries. |
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Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:46 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Flint EM Mike Brown says he will open union contracts
Posted: Apr 20, 2012 6:50 PM EDT Updated: Apr 20, 2012 7:18 PM EDT
By Lori Dougovito - bio | email
FLINT (WJRT) -
(04/20/12) - It is what union backers have been fearing and fighting since Public Act 4 became law.
Friday, Flint Emergency Manager Mike Brown confirmed he will open and adjust two city union contracts: The Flint Police Officers Association and AFSCME Local 1600.
They are the city's two largest collective bargaining unions and the only two yet to come to an agreement on concessions with the city.
Flint Emergency Manager Mike Brown says he needed to make a move.
He presents his first budget to city council members Monday.
A final version needs to be in place and approved by July.
ABC12 asked Brown if there will be layoffs. "We know this is going to be a very tough budget. Let me leave it at that," Brown said.
It's not clear what changes Brown intends to make in the contracts he said he will adjust.
The state department of treasury has to approve them.
A spokesman for the department of treasury confirms they're reviewing Brown's requests, making sure they are in accordance with the law and says there's no timeline for a decision.
Brown indicated he's still open and willing to continue talking with the two unions.
Kevin Smith, president of the Flint Police Officers Association, says his members offered concessions, the roughly 20 percent the city asked for.
One of the sticking points?
"They're trying to change the staffing levels, which is going to put the officer's and citizens of Flint lives at risk," Smith says. "In the most dangerous city in America? I think they'd want to add (officers) at this point."
Brown did announce late Friday afternoon he is adding to public safety, an administrator to oversee both the police and fire departments.
Barnett Jones held a similar position in Ann Arbor.
Jones will work as a contract employee with a salary of $135,000 and limited benefits.
"As he asks those individuals who provide services for the residents to take a cut? It doesn't look good right now," said Flint City Councilman Sheldon Neeley.
Smith says his union is open to talking concessions still.
We were unable to reach Sam Muma, president of AFSCME Local 1600.
Brown has approved agreements with three city unions.
The fourth and final of the six, AFSCME Local 1799, votes April 30. |
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Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:38 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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THERE HAS BEEN TALK OF A DISBANDMANT OR PARTIAL DISBANDMENT OF OUR FLINT POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION WITH THE SHERIFF, WHO APPROVES OF REHIRING OF SOME OFFICERS BY HIS DEPARTMENT. THEY WOULD LOSE RETIREE HEALTH CARE AND LOSE SALARY. tHEY WOULD STILL BE VESTED IN THE FLINT RETIREMENT, BUT WHAT CHANGES COULD BROWN IMPOSE ON THAT IF THEY FREEZE THEIR RETIREMENT?
FROM M-LIVE:
Flint MI USA April 20, 2012 at 7:49PM
This may be Phase 1 of a Master Public Safety Plan involving MSP & GCSD. Someone who is open to major realignment, reorganization, etc with NO local political connections AND, someone who owes no favors within the current COF PD force. Phase 1 would end on day Mr Locke retires.
Phase 2 will be next round of layoffs in conjunction with early retirements. St of MI offers X dollars as an incentive for some early buyouts. Additional funding would encourage many street officers to "come on board" via a significant infusion of MSP troopers.
Phase 3 will be COF loosely aligning themselves with FTPD, BPD, MMTPD and GTPD.
For the naysayers, believe it. Its feasible. Its doable. Its time.
Lastly...why not now? |
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Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:55 am |
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Adam
F L I N T O I D
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Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:27 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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That is only four of the six unions. The police officers union was asked for 30% cuts-10% more than the other unions/
Local 1600 also did not approve concessions and they are facing severe cuts and possibly a great deal of out sourcing.
Daugherty (Duffy) Johnson has received a promotion to a level above his local 1799 union members that he represents and yet he remains their president. That may be a conflict for some members. |
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Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:46 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Detroit Police Officers are also standing against cuts:
Proposed cuts to public safety won't happen without a fight
The starting salary for PO's is $30,137 - if you minus 10% it is about $27,000 - The US guidelines to be eligible for food stamps (a family of four) is $29,064 a year...
The fact that the best his administration can offer, at this juncture, is massive, emergency-style cutting is testament to how badly Detroit needs better leadership.
Detroit Free Press Editorial 4/13/12
While city leaders are doing their best impression of Hoppin Bob public safety unions are gearing up for a long summer and a big battle over the city's desire to cut wages by 10%. Deputy Mayor Kirk Lewis announced today that the proposed budget calls for $32 million in savings from the police department through cutting officers, work rule changes and a 10 percent wage cut. Officers have not had a raise since 2008 and have historically lagged behind other departments in wages. Last September Detroit officers agreed to concessions that got rid of the defined benefit pension program that is to be replaced with a 401(k) style define contribution program. This and other pension savings from police and fire will save the city $330,000,000 over the next 5 years. Last spring Mayor Bing came to officers with hat in hand looking for a relaxing of pension payments and officers and firefighters agreed, that savings was $65 million. This year the Detroit Police Officers Association led by President Joe Duncan negotiated an agreement that would cancel out overtime, holiday and court time pay, another saving of millions of dollars, But Governor Snyder threatened City Council about signing off on any negotiated agreements and Council gladly bent over to save their jobs. Every time the city has found itself in a financial bind officers have always been ready to sacrifice and just simply requested, don't take our pay. But Deputy Mayor Kirk Lewis declared , "its a new day". Somehow they have convinced themselves that a 10% wage cut will cure Detroit's ills. It has become some sort of symbol for Council and now apparently Mayor Bing. Cutting officers pay by 10% will not solve the long term deficit of Detroit. It will only serve to alienate your first responders.
For example, is there a way to cut something deeper to avoid reductions in the Police Department? Detroit already has too few officers, and they work with inadequate equipment and support. Lack of safety is likely the No. 1 reason for the continued population exodus, so cutting the Police Department might save money only to cost the city far more in the long run.
Detroit Free Press Editorial 4/13/12
One cannot imagine that simple grade school arithmetic would reveal to these intellectual giants that a greater savings would be achieved in changes in overtime, court time and holiday pay, something unions leaders negotiated but clearly faced opposition to from its members.
Anything the city wants from Detroit Finest but underpaid, it will have to take. According to DPOA President Joe Duncan, " We got more money than we have lawyers". Officers have a contract until June 30th that must be honored, beyond that every aspect of the consent agreement will be challenged in court and the battle to preserve what can be preserved under Act 312 will be fought full on. If Deputy Mayor Kirk Lewis thinks its a new day he needs to ask the citizens of Detroit. This unremitting attitude that we must act on the symbolism of taking 10% in wages from officers will be detrimental to the city in so many unspeakable ways.
The mayor's financial plans look less like a truly new day for the city than they look like the twilight of the bad old days
Detroit Free Press Editorial 4/13/12
Jenkins has police guarding her home
About 20 protestors found their way to Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins home on Saturday. They were there to protest the vote by Jenkins and four other council members that agreed to the consent agreement. At Jenkins home sat an out of service police car to guard against any incidents. The irony is rich; Jenkins has been among others on council advocating cuts to the police department. The already manpower short department puts a car out of service to watch her home to protect her from the citizens who are at her house to voice their concern over cuts that could affect service delivery such as police. Someone should have told her due to budget cuts we are unable to provide a car to sit in front of your house.
Detroit Police Officers Association ready to go forward with ratification vote
If Mayor Bing steps down from his office would you want an election?
Yes
No
Deadly week in Detroit
In 24 hours from 6:00 am on April 17 to 6:00 am April 18 there were five (5) fatal shootings and eight ( non-fatal shootings in Detroit. A reported eleven (11) murders occurred within two days. Does this sound like a situation that requires cutting police manpower or the police budget. It maybe time to cross-train our elected officials so they can suit up and hit the street and see what its like. Elected leaders apparently believe in addition by subtraction, taking money away from police will help the bottom line budget. In reality, subtracting police resources will bring additional crime and subtract residents. |
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Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:14 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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In a discussion on channel 2, an attorney felt the issue of the petitions would end up in court and be lost because of the wrong size font being used.
Police union: Contract changes imposed by Flint emergency manager 'punitive and demoralizing'
Published: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 9:01 PM Updated: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 9:10 PM
By Khalil AlHajal | kalhajal@mlive.com
FLINT, MI -- President of the Flint Police Officers Association Kevin Smith said pay reductions imposed by executive order today appear punitive after the union and city officials could not agree on concessions during contract negotiations.
View full size(Ryan Garza | MLive.com file photo) Flint Police work the scene of an April 10 shooting.
Flint emergency manager Michael Brown imposed wage and benefits reductions on the union in one of at least 12 orders signed the evening before a state hearing that could diminish his authority.
"Unbelievable," Smith said. "All he's doing is he's shoving it down our throats... Talk about demoralizing the most violent city in America.
"At this point, it's unconstitutional, what's going on. And I guess we'll have to see tomorrow."
The state Board of Canvassers is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Thursday to consider a petition from statewide group Stand Up for Democracy, which is pushing to overturn Public Act 4, the emergency manager law that gave Brown the authority to modify the contract.
"It may be a long haul, but the people will prevail," Smith said.
The firefighters union and police sergeants, captains and lieutenants unions earlier this month each voted to approve new contracts that included 1.5 or 2.5 wage reductions.
But the unilateral contract modifications imposed today on the officers union include a 5 percent pay reduction
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The changes also eliminate step pay increases and raise the amount officers pay toward smaller pensions
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The order also gives the city the ability to place officers on 10 or 12 hour shifts
and allows for "part-time and/or volunteers to augment the full-time police officers."
Smith said the changes add up to 30 percent reductions.
"Today, with the confirmation of the signatures going to the Board of Canvassers tomorrow, I'd say it's surprising tonight for him to do this," Smith said. "... It's just demoralizing."
Brown said this evening that the orders signed today weren't related to tomorrow's hearings.
The modified contract is set to expire June 30, 2014.
Smith said that while the officers will continue to fight the changes, the new contract won't affect how police do their jobs.
"At the end the of the day, we're still police officers," he said. "With everything going on and how we're treated, we're still going to fight and do our job for the public... We'll take it on the chin and we'll keep fighting." |
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Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:18 pm |
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