Police ranking officers accept pay freezes
The police unions realized that the city is facing hard times, the city’s law director said.
YOUNGSTOWN — The unions representing the city’s police patrol officers and the department’s ranking members have tentative agreements on three-year contracts that call for freezes in their annual base salaries.
The Youngstown Police Association, which represents about 115 patrol officers, approved the contract last week. City council is expected to ratify the deal at its meeting Wednesday.
The Youngstown Police Ranking Officers Unit — which represents 53 detective sergeants, sergeants, detectives, lieutenants and captains — voted by a 2-to-1 margin Thursday in favor of the contract, said Detective Sgt. Charles Guzzy, union president.
“Nobody likes not getting a raise, but everybody realizes this is what you’ve got to do,” he said.
The city administration is working on the 2010 budget that, as of right now, has a deficit of about $3.5 million.
Council is expected to approve that contract at its Feb. 17 meeting, said Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello.
“The unions realized there are financial hard times, and the city has to save money,” she said. “These negotiations were a lot smoother than in the past. Both sides realize we have to work together to get the city on a sound financial footing.”
The patrolmen’s association worked for more than a year and a half without a contract before binding arbitration settled the dispute in March 2008.
That deal called for a 3 percent base salary increase in the first year, 4.5 percent in the second year, and 3 percent in the final year. That contract expired Nov. 30, 2009.
YPA President Edward Colon couldn’t be reached Friday by The Vindicator to comment on the new contract.
The new contract keeps the annual base salary of a patrol officer with four or more years of experience, a majority of the union members, at $49,054.
The contract calls for it to be reopened 12 months after it’s ratified to discuss raises if the city’s finances improve to the point that salary increases can be awarded, Guglucello said.
If the city’s finances don’t turn around in 12 months, the pay freezes remain in effect.
The ranking officers union’s contract also expired Nov. 30, 2009.
Like the patrol officers contract, the expired three-year deal had ranking officers receiving a 3 percent base salary increase in the first year, 4.5 percent in the second year and 3 percent in the final year.The ranking officers can reopen negotiations with the city administration 18 months after the deal is ratified.
The city’s financial situation would need to improve enough to afford a pay raise for the ranking officers at that time or the freeze remains.
The ranking officers also agreed to give up a $1,500 uniform allowance payment during the first year of the contract, Guzzy said.
“Going into this contract, we knew it would be difficult because of the economy,” he said. “Both sides realized we had to step up. I’d like to see city council and the judicial branch makes cuts as well.”
Detective sergeants, sergeants and detectives earn $62,541.30 in annual base pay. Lieutenants get $62,541.30 a year in base salary and captains make $82,710.88.
Also, members of both unions will continue to contribute 10 percent of their monthly health-care premiums which also includes a prescription drug plan, and dental and vision coverage.
Monthly health care premiums for members of both unions are $461 for individuals and $1,164 for family coverage.
skolnick@vindy.com