Abramson tries to cancel Officer's Health Insurance...AGAIN!

WE ARE REALLY JUST A BUNCH OF "JERRY " KIDS. I SURE HOPE OUR FOP IS TAKING UP THIS ISSUE ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS.

I cant believe this. Why do you hate us so much Jerry?

The contract clearly states the maintenance of standards yet contracts don't matter at all to Abramson. He tried to take this insurance at merger, he tried to take it after the contract was settled in 2003 and here he is again trying to take it away. I hope we are recooping the attorney fees it is costing us.

The FOP is fighting this. My Doctor doesn't take Humana Insurance. I have been with her for a long time. I am not switching because Jerry doesn't want to carry anyone but Humana who probably pays him off. What a crooked mayor this town has!

EVERYONE SHOULD STAND TOGETHER AND CONTACT THEIR METRO COUNCIL MEMBER . THE METRO COUNCIL STOOD BEHIND US IN 2003 BECAUSE THEY AT LEAST REALIZED THAT A SIGNED CONTRACT HAS MEANING.

CALL OR E-MAIL YOUR COUNCIL PERSON TODAY!

Badges????? Jerry don't care about no stinking badges.

This effects us so we complain. We also need to start complaining about what effectts the community. The FOP needs to take this complaint along with every thing else public. We need to show exactly how many officers are on duty on a Friday and the rest of the crap that goes on. What about the $12 million Metro Council is wanting to pay for land so thay can expand 4TH street live. I thought we were $9 million in the hole. Jerry is a liar, but the Democratic Council are also guilty, they do whatever he says. Tandy should stay off the news before a picture of him shows up at Ryder Cup when his constituents were without power.

While we're on the subject of spending money unwisely...how about Ileads???

Ileads cost $2.5 million dollars. I cost a lot less than that. What if I started acting like Ileads....First, I might just take off the next 6 weekends. I'll dissappear around 6pm Friday and come back about 8 am Monday. Then, when I'm actually on duty, I'll work so slowly that my beat partner wonders if I fell off the planet. "Radio, hold me 10-7 for the next 3 hours on a shoplifter report." Oh, and did I mention, that I might change my mind on how I work. One day I might do things one way, but the next day everything's different. Of course, I'll send all my beat partners an email letting them know how to deal with all of my changes. So you're thinking I might not be too different than your beat partner, how about this. Every time I make a domestic run to a trailer park, I end the run by looking at the complainant and stating, "You have made an error. Please correct your error so I can validate this run." If the involved parties are actually good, upstanding citizens, I might give them a break and state, "You have 3 warnings. Are you sure you want to end this conversation?"

My sincerest respect goes to the men and women behind the badge who have been teaching us how to use this program; you have handled this much better than I ever could have.

Would somebody PLEASE commit Mayor Abrahamson for the purpose of determining whether he has sufficient mental capabilities to perform as the administrative head of a major metropolitan government. The man obviously has severe problems when it comes to reality. OOPS - I almost forgot, he wouldnt have any insurance to pay for the psych doctors to evaluate his condition under his newest proposal. Personally, Its time for the Chief to take a stand either for or against his men when it comes to the most basic benefit that is just as important as your sidearm, handcuffs and radio. I know --I am now paying for two surgeries related to an on duty injury incurred over twenty years ago... and workmans comp isn't picking up the tab, its called Medicare Disability.

OFF WITH HIS HEAD!

I was at the Belknap Festival over the weekend and ran into Councilman Tom Owen. I asked him if he wa aware that the Mayor was going after our insurance again. He was not. There are a lot of Officers that live and work in his District yet nobody bothered to talk to him until I mentioned it. Remember that these elected Officials just like us aren't omnimpitenet. If you don't tell them about a problem than they cannot work to fix it.

Last time the Council stood up and told the Mayor that he needs to abide by the contract. Councilman Owen asked several questions of me. Are we under contract? I told him Yes until 2010. He asked if the insurance portion was spelled out in the contract? I told him Yes, that they had to offer the same plans as before. I appologized because he was there not working, (Kind of like when somebody comes up to us in restaraunts.) He tols me that he is glad that I brought it to his attention because he was totally unaware of it and it is his part of his job.

How about you? Have you e-mailed your council member yet? Have you called them? Have you had your family and friends do the same? Have you replied to the FOP President's e-mail? this is one of the most important issues you will face. It is a long term issue. Insurance may not be something you need or use right now, but trust me, you will use it later in life.

Also consider that Abramson if allowed to get away with chipping away at our bennefits or in this case gouging, he will continue. What will be next? DO your part and make the call or e-mail today.

I disagree witht the headline of this article. He isn't trying to cancel it. He is trying to ROB us of it. It is a bennefit that we agreed upon in our contract, both the Officers and Metro Government. It is a bennefit we have foregone raises over in order to keep. You want my insurance Jerry??? Then next contract offer me a real freakin' raise. that is what it is going to take for you to get me to agree to give it up 10% or greate, because my insurance bennefits are worth that at least.

We have a signed contract with Metro Government. What arrogance to think that he can abrogate our contract and change things just because he wants to. Who does he think he is to do this again and waste taxpayer dollars AGAIN. He was defeated previously and will be defeated AGAIN. Does no one in the public see this as a problem?

It is like the person posted in a previous post. We have lost indutry and jobs while other cities have gained and every bit os it has been while he has been mayor. He isn't a good administrator. He wouldn't come out and moan about being broke and then trying to push through this crappy deal with his pals at Cordish Company. Why don't we ever get to vote on the way he spend out money?

His honor the Mayor is, has and will continue to ignore our contract. He has, without attempting to negotiate/communicate/talk to, charged the employees of Metro Government for the privilege of taking our cars home. The issue is not whether this is appropriate it is that he cannot simply charge us without negotiating with our bargaining agency. This is just another round of his absolutely refusing to recognize or adhere to a contract that he signed. He is in violation of the contract and is not negotiating in good faith. By doing this he should be subject to civil action in the courts. He refuses to acknowledge his responsibility, excuse me, that which he is legally bound to do. If he were the president of a corporation instead of an elected official he would be sued for his actions. He has a blatant disregard for his employees that is beyond comprehension. He consistently talks about money and the lack of it yet is giving away land for 1/3 of its value. Mr Mayor, there is your 9 million dollars that you were short. You want to think long term? How about making the infrastructure of your city including the public safety sector a viable and efficient system. You failed to plan for metrosafe and are now in the fifth year of officers working on two separate radio systems. Your director of metrosafe is not only going back wards in the technology but looking to buy used equipment to save money. What you touted as the newest most innovative system in the country still isn't working and is mired in politics and lack of planning. Mr Mayor what are you trying to build? A city where people are safe and visitors want to come to more than once or a crystal palace that is doomed to shatter. I'm just a tiny cog in the machine. I will be able to retire by the time this is worked out and hopefully begins to work. Your system runs on the most basic of things that you take for granted, abuse and ignore...the people who show up and do their jobs. Have you thanked all the metro employees who gave the extra during and after the windstorm? Have you even appreciated the fact that the majority of your employees came to work, did not just their jobs but quite a bit extra, while they and their families were without power? No you just told the people at the aquatic center that you didn't have power and let them feel sorry for you. Try looking down from the pinnacle that you stand on and you might see that it is built, maintained and carried by the fine people who work for Metro Government Try something new and give a second thought to the agencies that you continuously take from, ignore and violate the contracts of. You are not building a better city, just a larger version of the same one you had before. Hopefully all of us will be long retired before your decisions come back to haunt us.

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WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO TAKE THIS SCHIT FROM THE MAYOR!!!!!! WORK STOPPAGE OR SLOWWWWWW DOWNNNNNNN. ******** THE CRIMINALS, LET THEM HAVE THIS CRAPPY CITY AND THEN THE MAYOR CAN ANSWER FOR HIS ACTIONS!!!!!!

I heard back today from my Councilman. He is looking into it and agrees that our contract MUST be honored at all costs.

"Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale, and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged."

~ President Abraham Lincoln

Replace the two words in blue with "The Mayor" and "Police Department" Interesting eh?

I think this should apply to local politicians as well

I e-mailed all 26 council memers the day the FOP sent out the dreaded e-mail about our dictator Mayor. Not one replied, notta, zip, zilch, NO ONE!

I spoke with Doug Hawkins' office today since he is my Councilman. He asked for a copy of both the contract and the grievance. I hope our FOP can get that to him.

This just goes to show you all how bad you guys are geting beat. This is the first I've heard of this and where did I hear about it at? This website. Not the news, newspaper or radio but this website. My point? the general public does not know and they wont care unless you all start pointing out EVERYTHING this mayor does that is out of line.You all have got to do a better job of fighting this mayor or you are DONE. Come on guys, face it, no matter how bad you dont want to you are going to have to get nasty with this excuse of a mayor. How long before you guys stick it back to him? Remember, if you dont take the fight to him you will continue to suffer. He gets away with it because you let him.

Since the Mayor has no problem with breaking our contract and the upper command has no problem bending policy to suit them why are we not doing the same thing and striking? I'm getting sick of hearing "oh you can't do that it violates policy" No one else gives a s**t about it so why should we? I think it's time to take this battle in a new direction. I think our FOP President needs to be on the news talking until he loses his voice becauses this safe silent fight is getting us no where. Why am I paying dues and going to meetings if all i'm going to get is a 3-4 sentence email telling me we're going to court. That should be expected. We get screwed on every contract so why be nice to these a$$holes...be a thorn in their side McGuire that's why we elected you.

I hear the First 48 is riding with Homicide for the next year. Why didn't the Chief's Office send out a heads up e-mail?

The e-mail that Metro technology sent out is interesting. Especially the last sentence. What are some of your thoughts. Will we have nothing come Jan 1st. Health, dental, life, etc.......

To all members of LMPD River City Fraternal Order of Police, FOP Lodge 614:

On Friday, October 17, 2008, FOP counsel David O. Suetholz asked Judge Mitch Perry for a restraining order and temporary injunction to prevent Louisville Metro Government from conducting Open Enrollment for its union members beginning October 20, 2008. Specifically, the court order states that "?Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government, Kentucky, is enjoined from beginning open enrollment for FOP Lodge 614 and its members on Monday, October 20, 2008, until further order of the court." A copy of the court order is attached.

This means that Open Enrollment for FOP Lodge 614 members will not begin on October 20, 2008, and they will not be able to enroll in any benefits for calendar year 2009 until further order of the court.

I just saw a story on WAVE 3 and the FOP Prez did an AWESOME JOB! He even told WAVE that the continued attempts to violate our contract, like not wanting to give us the raise on July 1st, give back pay in a timely manner, and now try to take our Insurance away as set out in the contract shows the officers on the street that this City does not care about them!!!!! WELL DONE BROTHER McGUIRE!!

The Damn Mayor or not even a Mayor spokesperson would interview...They interviewed the County Attorney spokesperson Bill Patteson and he was horrible. If you find the story on WAVE 3, you can even see what appears to be Shala Reeves (wave3) making fun of all his hands gestures! ******** THE CITY OF LOUISIVLLE, at this point the METRO COUNCIL SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR NOT MAKING A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR LMPD OFFICER'S!!!!!

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - We all struggle to make the best and most affordable health care coverage decisions for our families, but what if you lost that choice? Metro Police say they no longer have a choice, and it has stirred up a fight with the city. WAVE 3's Shayla Reaves has more.

Right now one document stands between the city and Metro Police, and reaching an agreement on police healthcare coverage in the new year also comes with a delay.

"Open enrollment has been put off until we can come to some resolution," Fraternal Order of Police President John McGuire told WAVE 3 News.

On Friday Judge Mitch Perry granted an injunction to stop health benefits enrollment. It was scheduled to start Monday for police.

We visited the FOP to get answers.

"In the contract, we're guaranteed two plans by two different providers," said McGuire."The change was this year, we were not provided the two different carriers."

Instead, McGuire says the city offered two plans by the same provider - Humana. The FOP calls that a violation of the contract agreed upon in March. After filing a grievance with the police chief, the FOP went to the courts.

"We want the city to follow our contract and when issues come up that affects our wages, hours and working conditions, we want the city to sit down and discuss those issues as described by contract and by law," said McGuire.

"We had to fight over just getting the raise that we agreed to, then getting that back pay that was agreed to in our contract, and now we're dealing with insurance," McGuire said. "To the officers on the street that sends a message that the city just doesn't care about its police officers."

When we contacted the city for comment, Bill Patteson, a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Attorney's Office said he "really can't go into the details of the grievance. The administration will meet with FOP representatives next week and they will talk over the plans and try to come to some agreement."

"It is kind of in the city's hands right now, to contact us," McGuire said.

We're told the FOP represents about 1,200 officers in Louisville. Representatives and city attorneys will meet before Judge Perry on Oct. 24 to discuss their progress towards a solution. The new plan year is scheduled to start January 1st.

Can the FOP get a group of Officer together and silently protest with signs of displeasure.

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As a County Attorney Mitch Perry was Queen Jerry's hand picked boy to lead all his union busting efforts. What that guy screwed up is legendary, no regard for contracts or the law. IPL was one of his many fiascos, sold out all the employees to cover up Bill Schreck and John Floods illegal activities so they did not embarass Jerry.

FOP At Odds With City Over New Insurance Plan

Officers Say New Plan Violates Their Rights

POSTED: 9:54 pm EDT October 20, 2008

UPDATED: 11:32 pm EDT October 20, 2008

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Fraternal Order of Police and the mayor's office are at odds once again -- this time they?re heading to court over a new insurance policy. The FOP said the new plan violates their contract but the mayor's office disagrees. "Its a huge inconvenience," FOP president John McGuire said. "Early in October we were notified by the city they would be offering two insurance plans to FOP members but those plans would be offered by the same administrator."

The organization said that the city is violating their rights. The controversy surrounds a court-ordered injunction and the new insurance policy being implemented for all city employees. McGuire said the new plan violates the police contracts by eliminating a choice. "Per our contract -- there should be two different administrators and two different plans," McGuire said. The FOP filed a lawsuit and a judge granted the injunction on Friday that put the brakes on open enrollment for the new plan, which was set to begin Monday. The mayor's office and the county attorney's office both said that because of pending litigation, they could not speak to WLKY on camera. They did state that the new plan is not a contract breach because there are two options under the Humana policy. They also said that every city employee will switch from Anthem to the new plan. But McGuire said the FOP is prepared to fight until a compromise is reached. "The carrier we are currently using provides a much better product and the members are very happy with it," McGuire said. The FOP is meeting with city officials on Wednesday with hopes of finding a solution. They will then have to report back to the judge on Friday and from there the judge will make a ruling about whether or not to lift the injunction.

We abide by our contract of not going on strike, what's the deal, if the Mayor can ignore the contract can WE not. You know we have a certain few officers whom would stick together and the others whom dont care to stick together, i see our color as Blue and our race as Police Officers who protect this city of PARKS. So once again i say WE as Police Officers unite together and sit down, Answer your call's for service but as far as Self Iniatated activities and worried about a stat, SIT DOWN. When the attorney's arent making any money off the arrest's that WE make them, then they will start calling and raising hell like they did before back a few years back. When crime go's up and up and up, then MAYBE our Mayor and Chief will care. Dont sit back and take this, if you do we are going to get bit in the behind once again. How much more do we have to take before WE as Police Officers unite together, look at what happened to our equipment check, then our retro check. SIT DOWN for a week with NO stats, but of course answer your call's for service--that's what we do, tickets, arrest,drug arrest--sit down and see how much they need us, then they will appreciate the fine job that WE do. When CompStat comes around they will see a difference. NO STATS. Remember there's such a thing on the KYOPS as a warning citation, which is a STAT but no one go's to court and no attorneys make any money off it. So that's what i'm going to be doing, join me and unite.

John McGuire has kept me updated on the health insurance problem which is the latest show of disrespect to the men and women in uniform. I attended your FOP meeting tonight to personally thank you for endorsing me for my Metro Council race. While I was there I heard Graham Honaker speak and ask you for your support in his race for the Metro Council District 26. What does this have to do with the Mayor changing your health insurance benefits between contracts? Graham Honaker is one of those people who knows that you are of the people deserving of our respect. As of now, the police department is the place the Mayor goes to get cuts to use on his pet projects. Graham's opponent is a fine young man which made the endorsement process so hard in the District 26 race. But, his opponent was hand picked by Jerry who gave him $1,000 for his race. I ask you to please consider voting for Graham Honaker to make our job easier to prevent rubber stamping the Mayor's agenda. Thank you for giving me this room and, again, thank you for your continued support. Kelly Downard

Just thank God he didn't have both hands on your back when he tried to stab you with something........................

Jerry Abramson is an embarassment to this community. I cannot understand why Louisvillians continue to vote this guy into office nor can I understand why his rubber stamps on the Metro Council are re-elected on a regular basis. Its mind boggling that a group of people can pull the stunts that these people do and not be held accountable by the citizens at large.

Don't you think that it is time to throw out the entire mess of officials that can't seem to understand common sense things that would be needed. It would be just about like eliminating squad cars and expecting to catch bank robbers. What is really mind boggling is that Abramson has dumped on the fire department for years just like he has to the police department.

It is totally unfortunate that Louisville is rapidly being transformed into a low wage service economy where people make less and less while Abramson and his cronies expect police protection, fire protection, and massive government services while taxing people who can barely pay the rent or anything else in this inflationary economy.

Its a shame that Mr. Abramson doesn't recognize the value of all citizens of this society and the constructive roles that each person can play if they choose to. By trashing the middle class and the average people of this city, he is doing the future of this city a great disservice.

Why doesn't the FOP bring this issue to the attention of the local media? I am sure the citizens of Louisville Metro would be very upset if the police department went on strike until this issue was resolved. Come on White, stand up and fight for your deparment!!!!! Put it on the news and I bet LMPD will get results.

Mr. Downard stops two peoples breaking into a house. Great Job Downard! Thats more that Jerry has done his whole life!

Please run for mayor Kelly Downard and get our city back on track with realistic goals and appropriate funding for needed projects. I will personally plaster you signs all over the metro!

I second that! I'll put signs all over Jerry's neighborhood and the east end!

Aint nuttin but a big ol pumpkin head mofo that got clout from screwing the lil guy and helping out da folks in the east. Hes gotta go...like far away...like head north until you fall in this big ol pond full of s%^ we call the ohio river. Sta there. well get your head after it pops up in da spring. run kelly run. save our city. SOS and all the other stupid sayings.

If the union and city have a contract for health care then leave it the heck alone and pay for there service.

UNIONS FOREVER