sounds like W's convention might bring the "blue flu" to town. on one hand, i gotta hand it to the cops and firefighters for (the idea at least) using political pressure to their advantage (for a change). no way is the primary going to be held with NYC's cops especially on strike -- and that primary WILL be held. i suspect bloomie's going to get some serious pressure from up top to resolve this *pronto*.

on the other hand, i can't help but think it's kind of anti-"protect and serve" to jeopardize public safety to pressure the pols. it falls under the "brilliant but a dirty trick" heading, personally. but hey, it worked for the FF's in boston...


NYC Fire, Police Unions May Strike at RNC

By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS
Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Police officers and firefighters announced an impasse Tuesday in their contract negotiations with the city and refused to rule out an illegal strike or sickouts during the Republican National Convention.

Off-duty police officers have recently been showing up at Mayor Michael Bloomberg's daily public appearances and picketing outside Madison Square Garden, the site of the Republican National Convention beginning Aug. 30.

"Everyone has a limit, and the mayor needs to know we're close to our limit," said Stephen Cassidy, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association.

In the days leading to the Democratic National Convention, Boston firefighters had threatened to picket parties and other events attended by delegates. A contract agreement was reached on the eve of the convention, and no picketing took place.

In New York, several other city unions have already accepted a 5 percent raise plus $1,000 over three years. A mayor's spokesman said Tuesday that the city's last offer to the police and fire unions was a $1,000 lump sum payment plus an 8 percent pay increase, though most of that hike would be contingent on the unions' agreement to accept other contract changes such as lower pay for new workers.

But Tuesday, the police and fire union representatives said they deserve more significant raises than other city employees.

"Mike Bloomberg says we're no different than people that push paper," said Cassidy. "It's an insult to the firefighters and police officers who risk their lives every day." He said more than 1,100 New York firefighters have died in the history of the department, including more than 300 on Sept. 11, 2001.

Firefighters have been without a contract since May 31, 2002, and police since July 31, 2002.

Bloomberg has said the city cannot afford to give significant raises to municipal unions.

"It doesn't matter what tactics they use, the mayor isn't going to be intimidated into making a bad deal for the city," said Bloomberg's spokesman, Ed Skyler.

Remember when all the Air Traffic Controllers went on Strike??

Now I could understand a cost of living raise equalled out in such a way as a 4 yr contract... but what kind of raises are they looking for??

and the one statement coming from the UFA President "Cassidy" makes it sound like he's riding on the shirt tails of the FF's and PO's who lost their lives in the line of duty!!!! Sad...

Hog

Not exactly an original idea. I believe the same thing happened last month at Boston.

snowwolf: yep. and because it worked in boston and the FF's got what they wanted, it's given the action legitimacy.

hog: well said.

Bring in the military.

donutboy2000

do you want another kent state episode?

As long as they reserve their real bullets for the liberal protesters, I'll support a "Kent State."


Only kidding. Poor taste, I know, but I couldn't resist.

hey, rd! good to see you posting again -- where ya been?

i truly understand the frustration of being paid the same amount that someone who "pushes papers" is paid. been there, done that. then again, i think of the sweltering days i spent in a warehouse job doing manual labor for minimum wage while the people who answered phones and typed memos sat in a/c comfort and made 3x as much -- as amy carter said, "life is unfair."

if the cops really want to go for long-term change, they should raise a stink about getting the entire city employee pay structure changed -- or go for a perk similar to "hazardous duty pay" in the military. after all, there are sworn officers who ALSO have jobs consisting solely of "pushing paper."

should officer deskjockey get the same pay as the cop walking a beat in a free fire zone?

As a LEO I'm all for NYC going on strike....the state I live in doesn't recognize unions so more power to them. And to comment on the "anti-protect and serve", we are paid employees of a city, paid to work, sometimes in horiffic conditions (like a pending hurricane). We are no different when it comes to working as a guy/gal getting up every day and going to some other job. Most of us after several years in LE know that our aspirations of changing the world are nil after working the street in just a couple of weeks. We have no committment to protect and serve after our 8 hours unless its a personal choice, but if we don't get paid for it forget it. People never stop to relize that we a re REQUIRED to appear in court, dispositions and the like on off days. MANY depts. do not compensate for these activities, and I didn't even mention required CEU training.

Now there are those that dedicate their entire life to LE. But statisticaly, these are the ones you read about that have no families, or have lost theirs to the job.

I fully support NYC's finest in red and blue and hope that they rouse enough politcal pressure to get what they so heartedly deserve!

just my little ole' oppinion.