Thursday, May 15, 2008

NEGOTIATIONS

Last night the Superintendent met with department members below the rank of sergeant at a town hall style meeting. The meeting was a question and answer secession and was attended by blogger Rue St. Michel. Visit his site and read his synopsis of what transpired.

Weis has indicated that future hires will be required to pass the POWER test on a yearly basis and that future promotions will also be required to pass the POWER test. No grandfather clause. Apparently a letter of agreement has been tendered to the FOP. That agreement would lock in future hires and promotions to the ranks of D2-sergeant. On the other hand, a separate agreement would have to be made with both the Sergeants and Lieutenants Associations for promotion above the rank of sergeant.

It was announced that future promotion lists will designate who was promoted by merit. Mr. Weis has stated that he wants more transparency in the merit process, I only hope that this isn't the only change implemented. Mr. Weis would garner more respect from the members if he were able to whittle the merit percentage down to a more reasonable ten percent. However, his comments on the Roe Conn Show indicate that he has no desire to so. Weis stated that it's only 30% (merit promotions) so if you have one hundred sergeants that's only 30 (thanks for the math lesson).


An update on the sergeants site has a letter from President Pallohusky to the members concerning the contract negotiations and issues. President Pallohusky reminds us that these issues will be discussed at the general meeting tonight. I have other commitments this evening so I will not be able to attend.
Since I last updated our members on the progress of the contract negotiations the following issues have been discussed at the bargaining table.

Length of the contract
Health Insurance
Discipline issues and the grievance process.
Random drug and alcohol testing (on-duty & off-duty involved incidents).
Bidding and Watch selection process; including expanding biddable units.
Economic issues (wage increases, duty availability, quarterly differential and uniform allowance).
Pension issues
Reduction from the current age of 60 at time of retirement for health insurance premiums to be paid by the employer.
Holidays, B.F.D.’s and P-Days
Promotional process
Detail pay and working out-of-grade.
The above captioned topics will be discussed in more detail at the next General Membership Meeting on 15 May 2008.

The next contract negotiation meeting with the City is scheduled for 5 June 08.

John Pallohusky
President
Chicago Police Sergeants Associations


I wonder if the issue "promotional process" deals with the POWER test?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

"That agreement would lock in future hires and promotions to the ranks of D2-sergeant. On the other hand, a separate agreement would have to be made with both the Sergeants and Lieutenants Associations for promotion above the rank of sergeant."


Are we sure? Wouldn't the "me too" clause make us a part of this?

Anonymous said...

Now the PBPA is going to file suit aganst the last Lt.'s test? Sucks for the top 100. I should get promoted as long as the top keeps changing and leaving so that kinda sucks for me if a judge tosses it out. Then what? No promotions for the next 10 year? Just wandering? (Selfishly, yes....)

Anonymous said...

Now the PBPA is going to file suit aganst the last Lt.'s test? Sucks for the top 100. I should get promoted as long as the top keeps changing and leaving so that kinda sucks for me if a judge tosses it out. Then what? No promotions for the next 10 year? Just wandering? (Selfishly, yes....)

I agree. Most of the downtown suckholes who had the answers got made already. Its just going to hurt the regular copper who got lucky....

Anonymous said...

There was one opening at each airport. CG got the O'hare spot in what was a done deal. There was nobody on the transfer order going to Midway though. Can they yank a bid spot and not fill it?

Anonymous said...

This is something that should have been done a long time ago. Keep the cops in shape like the military does.

rosco said...

Why bother with all this talk about contracts? It will just go to arbitration like before. The city just keeps cutting away. Do your time until you find something better.

Please keep in mind that this is an open blog
that can and is read by people other than Chicago Police Officers.