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Union skips sheriff's hearing on contract impasse
The Fraternal Order of Police unit in the Sheriff's Office chooses to rely on a lawsuit.
By Molly Moorhead, Times Staff Writer
Published March 5, 2008
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Sheriff Bob White said health insurance for agency retirees would be too costly.
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NEW PORT RICHEY - Sheriff Bob White sat on the dais in the County Commission chambers Tuesday, ready to hear both sides of a long-standing impasse between his agency and the bargaining unit that represents his deputies.
The union had the floor first.
"At this time, we'll call upon the FOP," White's attorney Wayne Helsby said, referring to the Fraternal Order of Police.
Silence.
"It appears, sheriff, that the FOP has no representative here," Helsby said.
For all the theater, it was no surprise union members stayed away. They have a lawsuit pending in the courts challenging White's right to even hold Tuesday's hearing. The union says the County Commission should be the final say in resolving impasse issues.
The sheriff says he should be.
Back to the hearing. When no one from the union spoke, Al Nienhuis, the undersheriff, argued the Sheriff's Office side. He said the agency has been "proemployee" on issues including sick and vacation time, pay and promotions.
But he held his ground on the two issues that have stalled contract negotiations for more than a year. The union wants the Sheriff's Office to provide health insurance for members after they retire but before Medicare kicks in. White opposes it for financial reasons.
Secondly, the union wants more rights to appeal disciplinary actions taken against members. The sheriff wants the current system to remain in place.
When Nienhuis finished, White said he would consider the positions of both sides and make a decision soon.
Stuart Rosenfeldt, the FOP attorney, said he expects White will "rubber-stamp himself" in deciding the two issues. So the union is looking ahead to having its lawsuit heard.
"We hoped that Sheriff White would've had the fortitude to wait and see what the court said instead of being his own interpreter of the law," Rosenfeldt said.
That question of legislative authority is an open one in Florida. But the county, for its part, is deferring to the sheriff for now.
"Until the time that somebody says that it's the responsibility of the Board of County Commissioners, we think the sheriff should serve in that role," County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said.
Molly Moorhead can be reached at moorhead@sptimes.com or 727 869-6245.
[Last modified March 5, 2008, 06:50:08]
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by Truth
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03/06/08 04:13 AM
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The biggest mistake the Pasco deputies made was getting the FOP to represent them, a fraternal order of alcoholics is all it is and ever was. If the PBA was elected you would probably see more and better results. Pasco you get what you deserve
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by Pearl
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03/05/08 04:36 PM
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"i do not believe the sherriffs office or the county should have unions or be allowed to have unions..." Wow - so much sour grapes from someone on the outside looking in. Perhaps you'll strap on a gun & badge & protect me and my family, tonight.
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by George
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03/05/08 04:16 PM
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We need to drop the GAP...for now. We need to concentrate on issues that don't cost the taxpayers money; the discipline issue. Until we fix that, Bob White and his Hitler Regime will punish who they want, when they want, for whatever reason they want
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by Stan
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03/05/08 04:12 PM
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We NEED a union. The Sheriff's Office currently can find you guilty, suspend you for 2 days without pay, then take OVER TWO YEARS to dole out the punishment? Criminals have statute of limitations WHY CAN'T WE?!?
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by Al
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03/05/08 01:19 PM
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Sheriff White appears to be playing games with his own people. I can no longer wonder why it seems our deputies are so unhappy. I've voted for White before, but he no longer has my vote. I will voice my concerns to all of my friends and family, also.
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by Pascoite
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03/05/08 01:11 PM
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The Sheriff did talk about GAP insurance until the union was voted in. and BTW why don't we take away the retirement benefits from the County commisioners. They get WAY TOO many benfits for the "job" they are elcted to. Pasco needs big change!!
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by Daniel
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03/05/08 12:48 PM
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The sheriff talks about a third world country. Sounds like the Sheriffs office. How is it that he declares himself the final say. Doesn't that sound like IRAQ. Shouldn't he allow an outside arbitrator. Or does he fear that he may be found wrong.
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by John
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03/05/08 10:34 AM
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GAP health coverage was something the sheriff was going to give until he stomped his feet at the fact the deputies voted for collective bargaining. GAP health coverage is also given to the county workers, but not the ones in harms way?
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by Gary
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03/05/08 10:25 AM
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The Union had asked for the same benefit regarding health insurance as the County currently provides it's members and members of the School Board. The Union did remove the Gap funding from the contract, however the paper did not make that clear.
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by PASCO PETE
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03/05/08 09:03 AM
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WHITE SHOULD NOT HAVE THE FINAL SAY I KNOW HE THINKS HE IS BUT GUESS WHAT BOB YOUR NOT GOD!!
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by Donna
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03/05/08 08:53 AM
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How many retirees is the union talking about? Not everyone who has left the Sherif Office is entitled to the insurance(GAP). Just how many deputies, that protected us, are we talking about.
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by stephen
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03/05/08 07:54 AM
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The audacity and arrogance of Sheriff White is beyond compare this example of a kangaroo speaks loudly as to why he has not earned the respect and support of his deputies. This is a sad state of affairs and should be remedied by the voters.
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by john
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03/05/08 07:12 AM
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i do not believe the sherriffs office or the county should have unions or be allowed to have unions,, this would end all the B.S.that is going on,,white is right,why should we pick up the medical benefits before they are eligible!
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by Carol
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03/05/08 05:32 AM
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The health ins for retired employees is a bit over the line. I work for a city and we are barely able to get our health insurance now..., in fact, it all just recently changed because of the budget cuts (thanks to the idiot Crist). Now we pay more.
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