It’s hard to believe, but the current contract that we are
working under will expire in less than six months on June 30, 2017. Soon, a demand will be made to terminate that
agreement with a request to begin negotiations on a successor agreement. We need the best negotiators to represent us.
For years, many officers believed that the Officers working
at the FOP negotiated your contract without the aid of labor attorneys. This is not true. While, we need to have a capable labor firm
at our side that knows labor law and our contract, there is also a need to have
Police Officers with experience in the negotiations process at the table due to
the unique aspects of our job.
The last round of contract negotiations resulted in the
loss of many benefits in the areas of active and retiree healthcare, tuition
reimbursement, the ability to take time off, and retroactivity for overtime
worked. This seems to indicate that Dean
Angelo’s negotiating team either had a lack of knowledge, a lack of inexperience,
or an unwillingness to fight for us. Most likely, it was a combination of the
three.
For the first time ever, we will be forced to decide
whether to seek treatment at a premium care facility where we will now pay 25%
of the bill or a regular care facility where we will continue to pay 10% of the
bill. Where do you think there are
better doctors and services? What did we
get in return for this change?
For the first time ever, we will now have to foot the bill
for co-pays, $20 to $35, every time we see a doctor. Even worse, these co-pays will not even go
towards meeting our annual deductible.
What did we get in return for this change?
Free healthcare for those retirees who retire at 55 will
end before the end of this contract.
What did we get in return for this change?
Tuition reimbursement was diminished. What did we get in return for this change?
Time due has now been restricted to 15% of available
manpower in some units due to a Memorandum of Understanding that was attached
to this contract. Who agreed to this?
Retroactivity for overtime, specifically FLSA overtime, was
illegally excluded from part of this contract.
Why would the FOP or its attorneys agree to this?
The Blue Voice team was assembled to give you the best
representation possible. The Blue Voice
has four candidates that have the contract negotiations experience, knowledge, and
success that will ensure that we will not be taken advantage of again. The
paragraphs below will demonstrate what our team will bring to the negotiations
table.
Kevin W. Graham is our candidate for President. Kevin was the State FOP First Vice-President
for four years. Kevin has assisted FOP
lodges throughout the state with contract inquiries and problems covering
numerous topics. Kevin has been involved
in prior contract negotiations as the Chairman of the Lodge #7 Work Schedule
Committee. Kevin is primarily responsible for the implementation of the 4 - 2
work schedule that the majority of us are currently working. Kevin worked diligently for almost a decade
to accomplish this task. He has been the
023rd/019th District Unit Rep for many years and has
challenged management more than they would care to admit due to his knowledge
of our contract.
Rich Aguilar is our candidate for First
Vice-President. Rich worked at FOP as a
Field Representative and Financial Secretary for six years. Rich was involved in contract negotiations
for the three contracts prior to the current contract. Rich worked side-by-side with Kevin Graham to
obtain your current 4-2 work schedule.
Rich was a part of the negotiating team that obtained free healthcare for
members who retire at age 55 and the ability to attain top pay at 29 years
instead of 32 years. Prior to leaving
the Lodge in 2014, Rich was able to secure a new disciplinary process that is
now included in your current contract. This process gives our members an added
right to have their cases heard by an arbitrator prior to serving any
suspension time.
Martin P. Preib is our candidate for Second
Vice-President. Prior to becoming a
Chicago Police Officer, Marty was part of a team that negotiated several contracts
for hotel workers. Those negotiations
were sometimes extremely bitter and the battles equaled or surpassed those of
the FOP vs City negotiations. Since becoming a Chicago Police Officer, Marty
has familiarized himself with our contract and will be able to bring his prior
expertise to the negotiations table for your benefit.
Robert J. Bartlett is our candidate for Third
Vice-President. Bob has been the SWAT
Unit Rep for five years. Bob is
knowledgeable when it comes to our contract and has represented his members
well. Bob is also aware of Illinois
Labor Law and filed an FLSA lawsuit on behalf of the members of his unit. When the current FOP administration illegally
surrendered retroactivity for FLSA overtime during the past contract
negotiations, Bob realized that something wasn’t right. Bob filed an FLSA lawsuit on behalf of all
FOP members. That lawsuit has been
resolved and the affected members will now receive 65% more retroactive money
than if they would have been paid properly by the City.
These four members, along with competent legal counsel,
would form a formidable adversary against the City in the upcoming contract
negotiations. We cannot afford to leave these negotiations in the hands of the amateurs
that have failed to represent you in the most recent contract negotiations.
