New Philadelphia Police Contract

The police contract is up for grabs again in New Philadelphia. City Council will vote on it come Monday, November 23. Actually, Council votes on whether to accept it or turn it down. There is no other option. The contract itself was put together by members from the Police Department and the Administration who agreed on what will be changed and included in the contract. It is their wish that Council just accept it without any consideration of its effects on the folks who have to pay the bill. This time, it's a honey. I've seen it, Council had a short discussion about it, and this one isn't in the best interests of the city.

Here we are in the midst of severe economic problems. Total unemployment in the state exceeds 16% with that number still on the rise. Washington considers it a victory when the number of folks applying for unemployment insurance is slightly down from the previous month. Less workers being laid off isn't good news. People getting jobs is good news, unless those jobs are newly created government jobs, which most are. It's back again to ignorance on the part of governments, large and small, and their inability to understand what is happening to middle America, those folks who are dependant on jobs for wages. One thing that never changes. No matter what the common man faces, government wages seldom fail.

Council asked that wages be held to a one-percent increase for this contract.
When the proposed contract was presented to council, the one-percent increase had long since disappeared. Consider the following hourly wage increases agreed to by the Administration for Patrol Officers based on service time:
1 to 2 years - increases 7.5% from $20.17 to $21.61, or from $41,954 to $44,949 a year
2 to 4 years - increases 5.9%, from $20.41 to $21.61, or from $42,452 to $44,949 a year
4 to 8 years - increases 3.8% from $20.81 to $21.61, or from $43,285 to $44,949 a year
8 to 15 years - increases 2.4% from $21.11 to $21.61, or from $43,909 to $44,949 a year
15 plus years - increases 1.0% from $21.40 to $21.61, or from $44,512 to $44,949 a year

Same thing for Dispatchers and Jailers:
1 to 2 years - increases 9.6% from $17.74 to $19.45, or from $36,899 to $40,456 a year
2 to 4 years - increases 7.8% from $18.04 to $19.45, or from $37,523 to $40,456 a year
4 to 8 years - increases 5.5% from $18.44 to $19.45, or from $38,355 to $40,456 a year
8 to 15 years - increases 3.7% from $18.75 to $19.45, or from $39,000 to $40,456 a year
15 plus years - increases 1.9% from $19.09 to $19.45, or from $39,707 to $40,456 a year

But, like the huckster on TV says, that's not all. If you happen to be a Jail Administrator, Dispatcher, SWAT member, or an On-call Detective, you get an additional $.25 an hour for every hour you work. Hear that? For every hour you work. Which means additional wages of $520 a year. But wait, that's not all. There's longevity paid at the following monthly rates:
5 to 10 years $15 for $180 a year
10 to 15 years $20 for $240 a year
15 to 20 years $30 for $360 a year
20 to 25 years $40 for $480 a year
Over 25 years $50 for $600 a year

Captains can't be left out, their wages to be set on a floating scale which pays them 10% more than the highest paid patrolman. New positions of Sergeant are included in the contract with another floating pay scale which is 5% above the highest paid patrolman. There is a danger here because according to the contract as it is now, the City and the Union shall reopen the bargaining contract for wage negotiations for in 2011 and 2012. The secret word here is "shall", and that is scary.

But, as the TV huckster says, there's even more. If an officer is called in for an emergency, he will get three hours minimum pay regardless of the time worked, and that paid at one-and-a half-times for overtime if necessary. And while that sounds like it should be it, it isn't. You add to that uniform allowances of $900 in 2010, $925 in 2011, and $950 in 2012, which is actually untaxed income. The city's payments to life insurance, health insurance, dental insurance, and wage based items such a Medicare, retirement, education, vacation, sick leave, and other payments to and for the members of the police force covered by contract, federal, and/or state mandate, add up to close to 48% additional cost up and above base salaries.

Simply put, to equal the package requested by this contract for one of our patrolmen in the non-governmental world would require a job paying a minimum of $65,000 a year.

City Council, the Administration, and the city's unions all have responsibility to the people of New Philadelphia which includes financial responsibility. Tax revenues are falling because of decreasing employment. Foreclosures are rising. Prices are still on the increase. Wages and jobs are still decreasing. It is time for the city as a whole to understand that city wage increases are not in the best interest of the city or its citizens. Wages can be increased by contract, revenues cannot. If our city employees believe that they have a responsibility to the citizens of New Philadelphia, they will forgo wage increases in this time of depression.

There may be a question why I speak out on contractual wage increases at this time. I am not singling out the police department. I had the same feelings when the fire department contract was discussed a month ago, but was unable to express them because the fire department contract was discussed behind closed doors in what I considered an unnecessary executive session. That session was unfair to the public and denied them the ability to understand the implications of that contract. This contract was briefly discussed by council and no decision made. The police department union contract will be voted on this Monday, November 23. I invite your comments. I invite you to contact your councilmen, your mayor, the media, and to make personal comments to the city council on this issue next Monday evening. Remember that this is your city, your finances, your savings we are talking about. There is no issue other than money here. The city must come to the realization that we are in a depression, that people are losing their jobs, incomes, and homes. This is not the time to raise expenses.