Lila J. Mills and Angela Townsend, The Cleveland Plain Dealer
About 500 frustrated Cleveland police officers got their first look last week at the city’s final offer to save up to 90 of their jobs. Many said they plan to reject it.
“It’s a joke,” said one officer who attended the packed meeting at the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association’s West 58th St. union hall Dec. 23. “We’ve got to shoot it down.”
The one-year deal would be effective Jan. 1. It requires police to give up next year’s clothing and maintenance allowance; drops from four hours to two hours the minimum overtime for court appearances; ends cash payments for deferred compensatory time, and makes them take time off rather than receiving cash for annual shooting proficiency tests.
Union members vote on the agreement next Monday and Tuesday, the same days firefighters vote on their agreement with the city.
Fire union President Bob Fisher has said there is a “very good chance” his members will OK the deal.
That agreement calls for laying off 70 firefighters instead of the proposed 150. EMS workers already agreed on a deal that saves all 21 paramedic jobs slated to be cut.
The police concessions would save 46 jobs. But if the deal is approved, city officials agreed to find funding to save another 44 jobs. And up to 35 laid-off officers would be recalled in the coming year to fill vacancies created by retirements and resignations.
Without the agreement, the city has said it will lay off 263 police to help offset a $61 million deficit in next year’s budget. That layoff has been pushed back to Jan. 4 to allow for the voting.
Bob Beck, president of the patrolmen’s association, was not enthusiastic about the deal when he spoke with the media outside the union hall after the meeting.
“This is not just about dollars,” he said. “This is about the city bettering their position in upcoming contract negotiations. There is no guarantee that we won’t be back here next year. Shame on the mayor.”
He said he encouraged officers to look over a flier outlining the concessions and vote according to their personal situation.
A young patrolman, who is scheduled to be laid off, said he expects the deal to be voted down because older officers do not believe the concessions will end in a year.
A detective with nine years on the job said, “The kids are going to hate us because it’s going to be voted down, but it’s the right decision. We’re giving up concessions, and we’ll never get them back. My heart bleeds for them.”