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Letter to the editor

Contract talks with unions 'bogged down' over money

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published November 14, 2004

PINELLAS PARK - Negotiations with the city's three unions are stalled, more than a month after labor contracts expired.

"We're not seeing any movement whatsoever," said Tim Ingold, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents Pinellas Park's police sergeants, officers and code personnel. "It's a little frustrating for us."

At times, it's been more than frustrating, he said. At one bargaining session, the exchange between city and police union negotiators became "vicious," he said.

"Here lately, it's broken down," Ingold said. "With regard to pay, it's broken down."

The officers want a 7 percent raise this year and 4 percent each of the next two years. The sergeants want 4.8 percent this year and 4.5 percent each of the next two years.

As it is, Ingold said, the officers'pay is 5.75 percent below average for eight police departments in Pinellas County. The change would bring officers' pay up to the fourth highest among those agencies. "It's fair, it's on target and it's justified by data from comparable agencies," Ingold said.

The city has offered 1.5 percent to 2.2 percent each of the three years of the contract.

The two plan to continue negotiations Monday. While pay is the primary concern, other issues remain on the table, he said. Those include the use of take-home cars, comp time and pay for time spent in court.

Also having trouble are the firefighters, for whom pay is also the prime issue. But like the police, other items are in dispute: Pension. Vacation. Sick time.

"Obviously, it's the four biggest," said Brett Schlatterer, vice president of the International Association of Firefighters.

"Neither side has been willing to change their last proposal" with regard to one of the pension issues, Schlatterer said. "We're pretty far apart on the pay. . . . We're definitely not at impasse. We're at bogged down."

Firefighters want a 3.5 percent raise this year and 4 percent each of the next two years. The city, Schlatterer said, wants to give only a 1.5 percent increase for each of the three years of the contract.

Russ Matthews, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, did not return a phone message asking for comment.

But Ingold said the three union leaders met recently to discuss the situation. AFSCME turned down a proposed contract 81-0, he said.

Pinellas Park City Manager Mike Gustafson said the difficulties in negotiations do not indicate deeper problems between management and labor. Times are tough, he said, and the city is trying to come up with the best agreement for citizens and employees. The negotiating team, he said, "is following directions from council."

These are the first labor negotiations since Gustafson took office and the problems were there from the start.

Rank-and-file police were outraged when city officials offered a 0.5 percent cost of living increase out of the box. Union representatives asked the state to send in a hearing officer to help resolve differences.

But before that could happen, the officers held an election and booted out the Pinellas County Police Benevolent Association, which had represented them. They turned to the FOP, which already represented the department's sergeants.

The change did not affect the city's hard-line stance, however.

"We're willing to work with the city (but) there's no communication," Ingold said. "It seems to be focused on all three unions."

Ingold said he has asked if Pinellas Park is having money problems or if there are other issues that are causing city negotiators to be immovable. City officials refuse to discuss those issues, he said, preferring to say only, "This is what I'm authorized to bring to you. Nothing more. Nothing less."

"It would help if I understood that there's a problem," Ingold said. "I just don't know what the deal is."

Ingold said he wants to avoid going to impasse. If that happens, he said, a deal could be imposed that would not satisfy either party.

[Last modified November 14, 2004, 00:20:24]