JULY 1981 NO7 Formula Backfires BIGGEST PAY HIKE SINCE '75
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
the-V %WL'7 Scm - .-w- Frcrncism - - - -•- y1 _ POLICE MAN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SAP FRANCISCO POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATIO . To Promote the Efficiency and Good Name of the San Francisco Police Department and its Meiw. S I, Member of 1UPA -international Union of PoliGe Amp. Organization of Police $ Sheriffs kiv SAN FRANCISCO, JULY 1981 NO7 Formula Backfires BIGGEST PAY HIKE SINCE '75 by Bob Barry, President For the first time since the present police and fire As our salary figures become more official through has been financially beneficial to the City and County of salary formula went into effect (FY76-77), police of- the Civil Service process, I have no doubt that our for- San Francisco and a financial disaster for police of- ficers and firefighters are expected to receive a salary mula will become the subject of substantial criticism ficers, firefighters and the families they are trying to increase in excess of 11 percent. because of the "unanticipated" double-digit increase support. Although the averaging formula depicting the 81-82 that the Charter mandated formula will provide. The alternative to our salary formula, whether or not increases for the five cities in our salary survey will nct Should the criticism come, it will no doubt emanate the criticism comes is Collective Bargaining with an ar- be finalized by Civil Service until mid-August, four of from the very same officials and groups that supported bitration mechanism for resolving an impasse should the five jurisdictions, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San the measure to place police officers and firefighters one arise during the negotiating process. Had the col- Diego and Oakland have settled their contracts for under this ill-conceived salary mechanism in the first lective bargaining process been utilized this year for ex- 1981-82. Oakland's rank and file officers are presently place. The only problem with such criticism is that it ample, there is no doubt that the City had a great in the process of ratifying their recently negotiated 9% should have been aired years ago when police officers potential to save millions in salary and retirement con- increase. Ratification is expected within the next few and firefighters received little or no increases under this tributions, while still granting our members an ade- weeks. formula. quate salary increase as well as providing additional San Jose, however, is still negotiating under the first The only opposition to our salary formula since it health and welfare benefits. However, the City must year of a voter approved Collective Bargaining agree- went into effect in 1976 has been from the police of- resign itself -to paying the larger than expected salary ment and it is difficult at this point to determine what ficers and firefighters that hae suffered because of the increases. salary increase they will receive. In addition to their miniscule wages that have resulted from its implernenta- In the coming weeks, we will attempt to bring about own problems in reaching an agreement, additional tion. an education process on the benefits of collective delays are expected because of other municipal No one individual in the political areas, not one com- bargaining so that those that are not familiar with the employee job actions that have taken place in Santa munity or business group in San Francisco, nor one process are better informed on how this process will Clara County. However, should San Jose settle their editorial from any newspaper or other media has ever save money while still providing our members with a de- contract prior to August 25th, their percentage increase uttered one syllable in opposition to our formula. The cent living wage and adequate benefits. will be incorporated into our formula. reason for the silence was quite simple - the formula Continued Back Page CONFIDENTIALLY A SERGEANT AND LIEUTENANT SPEAKING EXAMINATION by Gerry Schmidt by MikeHebe1 pointments are a way off. The FY 81-82 budget maintained the number of The Mayor's Citizen Assitance Center is located in The next scheduled sergeant's examination is slotted authorized lieutenants at 77. Room 160 at City Hall. The office receives and for January 1982. With some luck there should be at responds to complaints about city services or other least 10 vacancies in the rank of sergeant at that time. Advancing Exam Dates The next scheduled lieutenant's examination is plac- community problems. Prior to and after approval of the Consent Decree it On Monday, May 11, 1981, Ms. Catherine Barron, a ed at July 1982. There will be over 50 vacancies in this rank at that time. was agreed by the Civil Service Commission and the C.E.T.A. employee in that office, submitted a con- Department of Justice that a lieutenant's examination fidential 26-page report to the Mayor. The report was 81-82 Budget should be held as soon as possible after August 1, 1981. said to be based mostly on calls and visits to the com- The Association, in addition to endorsing an earlier ex- plaint office by citizens who contended that the police The Police Department's budget for FY 81-82 am for the rank of lieutenant, began to pursue the ad- department's Internal Affairs Bureau didn't investigate reduces the number of sergeant's positions by 70. In- vancement of the sergeant's testing. their claims of police wrongdoing. Department policy stead of 284 sergeants, the Department will authorize At the Association's general election in Janaury as it pertains to internal investigations was also criticiz- only 214. This move immediately eliminated the 61 1981, a motion to hold the lieutenant's and sergeant's ed. vacancies in the rank of sergeant which existed on June examinations as soon as possible in close time proximi- On Monday, June 1, 1981 at the regular meeting of 30, 1981. ty was very narrowly defeated. the Board of Supervisors, Harry Britt who had already Vacancies in the rank of Q50 sergeant will therefore In light of the very significant reduction in the released a copy of the confidential Barron report to be few in number by the time the January 1982 exam is number of sergeant positions and in view of the intrac- members of the news media, introduced legislation given and will occur primarily due to retirements. Continued Back Page which would do away with Internal Affairs as it is now Further complicating the sergeant vacancy situation structured thereby creating a newly formed Civilian is the consent decree provision which mandates the ap- Review Board. Britt said he was merely re-introducing IN THIS ISSUE pointment of only 25 sergeants in FY 1981-82 and legislation backed by the late Mayor George Moscone Widows & Orphans; Police Post ....................................Page 2 another 25 in FY 1982-83. and written by the San Francisco Bar Association in President's Report...................................................Page 3 1976. Although not immediately, the Bar Association Around the Department ....................................Page 4 Lieutenant's Vacancies Pride................................................................................Page 5 finally did re-endorse this proposal. Fellowship............................................................Page 8 On Wednesday, June 3, 1981, Police Chief Con Mur- There are presently 47 vacancies in this permanent Civilian Review Board Comments ............................Pages 8 & 9 phy was directed by the Police Commission to conduct a rank; 37 are now being filled on a like work/like pay POA Grievance Victories...............................................................Page 10 basis. The remaining 10 await the development of Board of Directors .................................................................Page 11 "comprehensive and complete" investigation of the Letters..................................................................................Page 12 department's Internal Affairs Bureau pertaining to the criteria (job performance, experience, seniority, ability DinnerDancePictures.................................................Pagesl6&17 allegations raised in the Barron report. The Chief to perform, etc.) by the Chief for continuing appoint- Youth&TheLaw ........................................................Pagei9 assured members of the Commission he would have a ments to the lieutenant rank. Since the development of MedalofValor .................................................................Page22 detailed report ready for their regularly scheduled criteria for like work/like pay positions to replace the PAL................................................................................ Pages26&27 seniority system has proven fruitless after numerous CLASSWIEDADS...................................................... PeQes282 meeting on Wednesday, June 24, 1981. Sports .............................,. Pages3O&31 Continued Back Page meetings, it is reasonable to anticipate that further ap- SAN FRANCISCO POLICEMAN - Page 2 July 1981 POLICE WIDOWS POST & #456 ORPHANS NEWS July is the 'month when most Posts cancel their The meeting was called to order by President James meetings. This is done for a two-fold reason. One, it's Sturken at 2:05 p.m., Wednesday, June 17, 1981, in right after the convention and attendance is down to a the Traffic Bureau Assembly Room, Hall of Justice. low count and the second reason is due to vacations and Trustee W Hardeman excused all other Trustees and it gives the new Post Officers a ciance to become ac- officers present. quainted with their new duties. I mentioned Gus Stremme in