Tentative Agreement Reached on Labaor Contract 2004

Yeah! I was afraid that the Mayor was going to try and wait until open enrollment and dump on us again and claim he was trying to be fair. I am looking forward to attending the meeting and finding out about our contract. Rumors have been flying around for months now. I have faith that the Contract Team wouldn't bring back something that wasn't decent.

Why are we only getting one day to review a contract that took so long to approve? Is there some reason we can't have more time to digest the information? This is a very important issue to all of us and I don't see the reason for the rush to judgement on something that will affect us for the rest of our careers. This is not the best time for a contract with open enrollment just over a month away. This is a pattern that has repeated itself and the results are usually not good. Please give us the time we need to make an informed decision without the rush. Thanks.

Why is there a hurry on voting for this contract? Why did'nt the FOP put the contract up on the web site as a proposal so all members could read it? Why vote the next day after a poorly planned, hurried, meeting? The FOP does not need to tell us what we read. We are adult, educated, and well trained police officers and do not need to be spoon fed. Does this contract have the "policeman's bill of rights" included? Does it have a perpetuity clause? Does it have measures to close the huge gap between Sergeants and Lieutenants? Does it have protection for the officers from electronic surveilance?

This smoke and mirror act does not bode well for those effected.

Yes some of our members do have to be spoon fed. Without saying anything, because you'll find out tommorrow, with open enrollment right around the corner this is exactly why we need to take care of this right now.

For anyone that needs time to digest this contract, I suggest that most of our officers wouldn't take the time in the first place, many of them don't know what is in the current contract.

Most Officers depend on otheres to know the ins and outs of the contract. Most Officers would rather concentrate on being Police Officers and by the way we seldom have less than a few seconds to make the really important decisions.

Officers and Sergeants will be given the opportunity to look at the changes in the contract, because some of it doesn't change from year to year, and make an informed decision based on those changes. How much time do you need??

ONE day??? I DON'T ThINK SO!!! We officers ARE the FOP, and WE say we need more than ONE day!!! We have heard ABSOLUTELY NOTHING concerning the contract while the 'negotiating' was underway. No updates, no rumor control, nothing at all. We are not going to take another 'Ray Franklin bending over this time, my ELECTED friends!

any changes to healthcare and zero in economics equal NO!!!!!

How can you say to vote NO on a contract we havent even seen yet? Do you know something we dont? Hey if we can walk out of this with insurance benefits intact, the contract has my vote.

For years I have supported, had great faith and respect for the work that the negotiating team does for us. But this time I must concur with the opinion that this is ridiculous for us to only have 24 hours to review this contract. Numbers and language need to be reviewed. I know many of my brothers and sisters will have difficulty even getting to the FOP in one day, let alone have time to think about it. Not anonymous,

R. Shawn Hensler 2nd

While I agree that you should have more time to review the contract, you will only give the Mayor more media fodder if everyone goes into this vote with the negative attitude shown on this board. I'm sure his cronies check this web site as often as we do, and they would just love to say "the police weren't even willing to give our offer a chance. They turned it down before they even saw the offer."

Good luck, what ever you guys/gals decide to do.

I have thought about the issues and have made my decision. I will vote yes! The vote will not be a 'yes' because this is the best contract I've see in five years, but more because we held onto insurance coverage. We will see changes on the coverage but not anything that will get sympathy from anyone paying the norm. (premium coverage cost about $400 and up per month no matter where you look!) As for the lack of pay increases--well, all suburban officers knew we would have to do without for several years after merger. That was no secret. You can thank all who voted for merger (my wife included). The days of 4 to 5% are a thing of the past. We'll be lucky to see three anytime in the future!

Rather than voting NO for cynicism--consider this: If this doesn't pass we WILL NOT do any better. All agreements held will be disolved. (imagine the free reign of RCW and company with no limitations.) Think carefully before you allow a negative feeling about minor issues impact ALL of our working conditions and benifits. (ask your non-P.D. friends about healthcare plans)

I say yes--it's fair but far from fantastic.

Do you mean furer as in mein furer?

FIrst off I have to say thanks to the officers who negotiated this contract. I know everyone wanted more, but, I also know we are in a hard place right now as it deals with insurance. I was at the meeting at 0900 and still feel that this is not something that can or should be voted on less than 24 hrs after the information is given to the rank and file. I also have reservations about some of the contract, like no raise for the first year. With that said, I will vote YES to approve this contract and lets come back when we have someone in office (both of them) who will work with the police to have a fair contract.

I COULD NOT MAKE A MEETING BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF TOWN. THE WAY IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME WAS THE FOP INSURANCE PLAN HAD SOME CHANGES THAT COULD NOT BE DISCLOSED AT THE PRESENT TIME. IF THIS IS TRUE ARE WE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO VOTE IN A CONTRACT EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T KNOW THE CHANGES IN OUR INSURANCE. GUYS DO THE MATH. THIS IS A 0% RAISE FOR 3 YEARS. THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS PLUS WE TOOK A ZERO LAST YEAR