Raw Deal
Pittsburgh police officials warn of ‘dire’ consequences about police union contract.
Via TRIBLive:
Thirteen members of the Pittsburgh Police Bureau’s command staff, in a unusual move, warned Mayor Bill Peduto of “dire” consequences if an arbitration panel’s draft contract for union police officers is permitted to stand.
The officials, none of whom belong to the police union, predicted in a strongly worded letter delivered Thursday that officers would leave for higher-paying jobs with suburban departments unless the city increases raises and other benefits in the contract. They warned that the bureau would have to cut back on services if officers leave.
“Mr. Mayor, we implore you to show our officers the respect and appreciation they deserve and provide them with a fair contract, not the contract that was given to them on Tuesday,” they wrote. “If we tell our officers that they are only worth a 7 percent raise over the span of five years, we might as well be handing them a job application for another agency.”
Such a warning hasn’t happened in at least the past four administrations.
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