To MPA Members,
 
First, we would like to thank everyone for their input and participation during these negotiations.  It is understood by the Contract Negotiations Team, that we are representatives of the membership.  That is why it is so critical that all of the membership participate in the entire process.  The outcome will be determined by how much, or how little we all put into it.  Please do not be discouraged if the issues that you present to the Team, do not get addressed at the negotiations table.  It is our responsibility to address those issues that are of concern to the majority of the membership.  Many members have voiced their concerns in regards to the retirement plan, ie… 20 years and out and the 5 year drop.  These are good suggestions and recommendations that would greatly raise the morale of the membership and contribute to the security of our future.  Retirement issues may be addressed at the table; however, they are not negotiated.  You should continue to address those concerns to the MPA Board.  Do not let these concerns die just because negotiations are over.  This is another reason it is imperative that we make the new and old city council members aware of our requirements.  Retirement concerns will have to be approved by the City Council. 
 
The Mayor has stated that all city employees will receive a raise this period because they have continued to work diligently over the past two years without a raise.  But remember that he has also stated that the city will effectively have to manage the reserves, and that a tax hike may be required.  This is the city wanting, in the first part of the statement, to make themselves look good, but in the second part of the statement, telling us we don’t know how much it will be, and the citizens must pay for it.  It was really time that they wanted to raise taxes anyway.  I say all of that to make the point, that it is the city’s strategy to put the citizens and the city council on guard as to how much money is given out to the city’s employees, but before that statement was made, the city’s executive staff had received their raises, and appointments had been made.
 
It is the belief of the Negotiations Team, that the powers that be would love to see the Association disassembled and powerless.  It has also been stated that the Bid Process will be another target.  There are many officers who have been unhappy with the operations of the Association.  That may be the case, but could you imagine what this department would be like without it.  Could you also imagine how things could change if we all take an active role.  At some point, we will either have to stand up for our livelihood, or it will be taken away as we know it. 
 
The Association walked out of the first negotiations meeting.  We had every intention of sitting down and having an open exchange of information.  It is the intent of the team to sit down with the city and negotiate.  We could not get pass the fact that Lt. Hulley was in the room.  It will be hard for the Association to negotiate when the city will not recognize the president or allow the Team to confer with the president, the person that the majority of the association has chosen to represent them.  A grievance had been filed in ref to the Administration recognizing him as the sitting president, we also stated to them that him being their, would not reflect on their contesting of his position.  Instead of discussing it, they read the riot act.  We felt that we had not choice but to leave the table, and to file a Law Suit. 
 
Negotiations are scheduled to resume on the 3rd of March.  We would hope that the City would be fair, and open to negotiations.  With crime (up), call loads up, case loads up, additional stress on officers, more violent crimes, added requirements on officers to produce tickets, Blue Crush, Mental Consumers, School Crisis, Beale Street, and New Housing Developments in high crime areas that they want us to secure.  We are first responders that run to shots fired, robberies in progress, violent mental consumer, prowler, domestic, burglary, DOA, fight in progress, First 48, interrogation in the bureaus and undercover.  When we reach the scene we are required to be paramedics, psychiatrics, mentors, social workers, legal counsel, marriage counselor, animal control, child advocacy, public relations, and computer operator, yet, they want to hire uneducated officers and deny proper tuition assistance to officers who really desire to increase their knowledge, which is needed, and would be an asset to the city.  I say that to say that we are not like every other job in the city and should be treated differently.  The Mayor makes his salary because of his duties.  We should be paid in accordance with the responsibilities given to us and the higher standard that we are held to.
 
This is your Association, you job, your career, and your future, as it’s manager what are you going to do to secure it ????
The 2008 Contract Negotiation Team