NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - After an unusual number of East Orange
police officers called out sick Wednesday and were joined by
firefighters in a sickout Thursday, the city said it would meet the
demands of unions for both groups, which have been without
contracts for five years.
"An accord has been reached," said Darryl Jeffries, a
spokesman for Mayor Robert Bowser.
Jeffries said the Bowser administration would drop its appeal of
last month's state arbitrator's ruling that granted pay raises
totaling 12.5 percent over seven years to police. The raises would
be retroactive to Jan. 1, 1999, when the most recent police
contract expired.
Sgt. Delacey Davis, acting spokesman for the Fraternal Order of
Police Lodge 111, called the announcement "great news" but said
the union wanted the deal in writing.
Davis said he did not know whether officers would report to work
as usual on Friday. But he said the police union would hold a 9
a.m. press conference urging them to do so.
"If they're well enough," he added.
More than 40 percent of the East Orange Police Department - 122
officers out of 284 - called out sick Thursday, after about 50
called out the day before, Davis said.
On Thursday, firefighters also seemed to have come down with
what Bowser had referred to as "blue flu," with 16 of 23
firefighters assigned to duty on Thursday calling out, said Fire
Chief Timothy Weiss.
"Yes, we had a work action by firefighters," Weiss said.
Weiss and Jeffries said the fire and police departments made
staffing adjustments to compensate and that the shortages had no
negative effect on public safety.
Davis denied that the police union had organized the sickouts.
But he said officers' frustration had steadily mounted after their
contract expired at the end of 1998, leaving them without a pay
raise in five years.
In its appeal of the labor arbitrator's ruling, Bowser had said
the city took exception to a contract clause that would have
provided extra financial benefits to officers with 22 years or more
experience.
Jeffries said an arbitrator granted similar raises to
firefighters, but the firefighters appealed the decision.
Jeffries said he didn't know what led the firefighters to
appeal, or precisely what the city would do to satisfy the
firefighters' union.
Jeffries said the city would investigate the absenteeism, and
would discipline any employees found to have falsely reported being
ill.
Charles Salley, president of the Firemen's Benevolent
Association, the firefighters' union, could not be reached through
messages left with the police union and the fire department.
In the police dispute, Davis said officers were offended by
language the arbitrator attributed to the city comparing the danger
of police work to driving a taxi or working in a convenience store.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
police officers called out sick Wednesday and were joined by
firefighters in a sickout Thursday, the city said it would meet the
demands of unions for both groups, which have been without
contracts for five years.
"An accord has been reached," said Darryl Jeffries, a
spokesman for Mayor Robert Bowser.
Jeffries said the Bowser administration would drop its appeal of
last month's state arbitrator's ruling that granted pay raises
totaling 12.5 percent over seven years to police. The raises would
be retroactive to Jan. 1, 1999, when the most recent police
contract expired.
Sgt. Delacey Davis, acting spokesman for the Fraternal Order of
Police Lodge 111, called the announcement "great news" but said
the union wanted the deal in writing.
Davis said he did not know whether officers would report to work
as usual on Friday. But he said the police union would hold a 9
a.m. press conference urging them to do so.
"If they're well enough," he added.
More than 40 percent of the East Orange Police Department - 122
officers out of 284 - called out sick Thursday, after about 50
called out the day before, Davis said.
On Thursday, firefighters also seemed to have come down with
what Bowser had referred to as "blue flu," with 16 of 23
firefighters assigned to duty on Thursday calling out, said Fire
Chief Timothy Weiss.
"Yes, we had a work action by firefighters," Weiss said.
Weiss and Jeffries said the fire and police departments made
staffing adjustments to compensate and that the shortages had no
negative effect on public safety.
Davis denied that the police union had organized the sickouts.
But he said officers' frustration had steadily mounted after their
contract expired at the end of 1998, leaving them without a pay
raise in five years.
In its appeal of the labor arbitrator's ruling, Bowser had said
the city took exception to a contract clause that would have
provided extra financial benefits to officers with 22 years or more
experience.
Jeffries said an arbitrator granted similar raises to
firefighters, but the firefighters appealed the decision.
Jeffries said he didn't know what led the firefighters to
appeal, or precisely what the city would do to satisfy the
firefighters' union.
Jeffries said the city would investigate the absenteeism, and
would discipline any employees found to have falsely reported being
ill.
Charles Salley, president of the Firemen's Benevolent
Association, the firefighters' union, could not be reached through
messages left with the police union and the fire department.
In the police dispute, Davis said officers were offended by
language the arbitrator attributed to the city comparing the danger
of police work to driving a taxi or working in a convenience store.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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