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FOP Press Release -- 01/11/05, 1:00 PM
The membership of Venice Lodge 57, of The Fraternal Order of Police,
feels it was left with no alternative, by the City of Venice, than to enter into
an informational picket for the following reasons:
 | At the first negotiation meeting in August, the Lodge provided the
City with a comprehensive study of the recent exorbitant increase in
housing costs which have overwhelmed the Sarasota area and most
specifically the Venice area. The City failed to provide a good faith
argument to counter the Lodge's conservative proposal. |
| While previously serving as the Assistant City Manager of the City of
Venice and the current City Manager, Martin Black, recognized the
outrageous increase in area housing costs and how these increased
costs are adversely affecting the County work force's ability to live
and work in the area. This opinion was rendered in a study,
co-authored by City Manager Martin Black, published by S.C.O.P.E.
(Sarasota County Openly Plans for Excellence). Mr. Black now chooses
to forget to recognize the negative effects increased housing costs
currently have on the employees he has in his charge. |
| The City's proposals to the Lodge have not even met parity with the
conditions agreed to with the Firefighters Union let alone the
explosive increase in housing costs. |
| The Lodge questions why the City's police officers are not being
treated equally to its own firefighters? Are the lives and
productivity of police officers valued lower than that of
firefighters? |
| The Lodge fully appreciates the worth of the City's firefighters;
however, we are a pro-active work force. This pro-activity is
responsible for Venice being labeled as the safest City in Sarasota
County. Venice does not enjoy this status by accident. The City's
police officers form a viable, professional work force that is
responsible for the overwhelming safety enjoyed by its citizens. |
| Venice is touted as "America's top place to live" & "safest from
crime" as reported in the Sarasota Herald Tribune April 9, 2004 and
Money Magazine, as well as, Retirement Havens, by Guy Miles, PhD. |
| Despite the safety Venice's citizenry enjoys, according to F.B.I.
statistics, Florida leads the nation in assaults against police
officers; Venice Police statistics mirrors the state average. In other
words, one in five cops is assaulted annually in the City of Venice. |
| Venice Police Officer's proactive response to the public's safety has
resulted in a 126.7% increase in Weapons-Related Arrests from 1998 to
2003. |
| The Lodge recognizes issues regarding health benefits to be a hot
topic; nevertheless, Venice Police Officers hired on with an
expectation of a comprehensive health care program to be provided at
no cost. The F.O.P. feels that it is the least an officer deserves,
when they themselves put their own health on the line every day for
the citizens of Venice. We did not negotiate this benefit away! The
City is forcing an employee paid health program upon us, as they
forced on their non-bargaining employees. The same program the
firefighters were misled by the City into accepting. |
| Along with a 9% increase in pay, Marty Black enjoys City paid health
care. The City Council also enjoys health care insurance provided to
them and their family members at no cost. And if that isn't
distasteful enough, those City Council members who are elected to a
second term enjoy, free of charge, lifetime health benefits;
compliments of the Venice taxpayers. The F.O.P. questions why its
members, who dedicate 10, 20, 30 years of their lives to protecting
the City of Venice, will be compelled to pay this expense. The final
insult lies in The City's failure to provide the Lodge with a good
faith argument regarding this health care conundrum. |
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We encourage members of the news media, as well as, the general public to
attend our next scheduled negotiation session on January 19, 2004 in Venice City
Hall.
Please direct all questions to:
Paul Murphy, F.O.P. Staff Representative @ (941) 685-1141
City's response -- 01/11/05, 2:00 PM
From: Pam Johnson
Public Information Officer
City of Venice
pjohnso@ci.venice.fl.us
486-2626, Ext. 2003
DATE: Jan. 11, 2005, 2:00 PM
SUBJECT: City of Venice and FOP negotiations
[The following is a response from City Manager Marty Black regarding current
negotiations between the city of Venice and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)
representing Venice police officers:]
Over the period 1999 through 2004:
| City Police Officers represented by FOP have received base pay increases of more
than 56%; |
| During the same period, City Fire Fighters have seen base pay increases of 55%. |
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Unlike their counter parts in the Police Department, Fire Fighters and
non-bargaining employees are now paying toward their health care costs.
The City's proposal was at 3% per year for 3 years in response to the Police
Officer's initial demands for 13-20% increases each year, the ability for every
officer to have a take home vehicle, and the addition of extra vacation and
holiday days off.
The City's current offer matches the entry-level salaries of Venice Police
Officers with those of officers in North Port, Sarasota County and the City of
Sarasota. The City's offer for officers with more than 5 years experience,
provides salaries to be competitive with officers in North Port, City of
Sarasota and Sarasota County and reflects a higher base salary than City Fire
Fighters with similar experience levels.The materials distributed this afternoon by the FOP Officers are outdated and
inaccurate and, unfortunately, signal to me at this point we are likely to find
ourselves at an impasse.
FOP Press Release #2, 01/14/05
Fraternal Order of Police
Venice Lodge 57
*PRESS RELEASE*
The membership of Venice Lodge 57 feels compelled to respond to the misleading and inaccurate information supplied by Marty Black following our informational picket on January 11, 2005.
| Mr. Black states that the Venice police officers have enjoyed a 56% increase in pay since 1999.
In fact, in the last five years, Venice police officers have received a 19.9% increase in pay. |
| Mr. Black is attempting to use the standard 5 year step-program for all newly hired police officers as the enormous five-year pay increase he continues to spout to the public. What that boils down to is that when an officer hired in 1999 completed the first five years of employment, his base salary increased 56% over his hire salary. |
| Mr. Black's statement applied to three officers who were hired five years ago. So, not only does this apply to ONLY approximately 7% of the work force, it was their beginning salary agreement. Mr. Black was a non-participant in creating the initial 5 year step program. |
| As far as the rest of the police officers, they received an increase of 3% in
'99, again in '00 and '01, a 7.9% in '02 and another 3% in '03. In compiling the basic math: the officers received a 19.9% increase in pay, a far cry from the 56% Mr. Black has been touting. |
| Mr. Black has also stated that other unions have welcomed the contributions they must now pay toward their own health insurance. Mr. Black offered 9% over the next three years. What this breaks down to is: a topped out officer would receive a $1500 raise for the first year. Mr. Black wants a health care contribution to start at $40 monthly, which brings the $1500 to $1000 for the year. Since the officers in Venice need to contribute to their own pensions, a point that Mr. Black fails to acknowledge when inaccurately comparing Venice with other local Law Enforcement agencies, would leave approximately $925, after the standard taxes this would leave an officer with approximately $640 annually or $24.60 a two week pay period. That is the bottom line of what Mr. Black is offering. |
| While the same may be true for the City's firefighters, Mr. Black made several glaring omissions: police officers top out in 5 years whereas, firefighters top out in 4 1/2 years. During the past 5 years police officers have received
a 19.9% increase in pay, the fire service received a 21.5% increase in pay. The firefighters will receive an addition 13% over the next 2 years. |
| What is concerning is that the local unions need to continue to fight this absurdity time and time again. This is what the FOP must contend with each time it sits down at the negotiation table: unsubstantiated condescending offers, or lack thereof. |
| The Lodge contends if Mr. Black believes the remaining 93% of the Venice Police work force received a 56% pay increase over the past 5 years, we'd like to receive our back pay. |
| Finally, the City's press release states,
"the materials distributed this afternoon by the Fraternal
Order of Police officers are outdated and inaccurate
and unfortunately signal to me at this point we are
likely to find ourselves at an impasse."
If the legal and lawful actions of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 57 have in some unknown way sent a signal to the City Manager that "we are likely to find ourselves at an impasse" and since the City Manger is the final decision maker, why is the City's bargaining team meeting with the F.O.P.
on January 19, 2005? It appears the City has already made up its mind
and has no intention of bargaining in good faith. Let us not waste any
more of the City administrations time. |
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The Lodge will not be intimidated by Mr. Black's veiled threats of impasse. If the City wishes to declare impasse that is its prerogative. However, we have met in the past and negotiated in good faith and we will continue to do so.
Our next negotiation session is scheduled for Wednesday January 19, 2005 at 1:30 PM in Venice City Hall. The public is welcome to attend.
Paul Murphy, F.O.P. Staff Representative @ 941-685-1141
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