|
King County Police Officers Guild General Membership Meeting November 28, 2007 RJC
MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Eggert – President Pat Bowen – Vice President Ron Kierce – Sec/Treasurer Thad Frampton – Board Member # 1 Don Dougherty – Board Member # 2 Mark Lemoine – Board Member # 3 Mark Rorvik – Board Member # 5 JK Pewitt – Board Member # 6 Jake Pavlovich – Major Crimes Dave Keller – Major Crimes DB Gates – Major Crimes Mike Mansanarez – Pct 4 Tony Provenzo – SAU Chris Bedker – Marine Unit Cindi West – Marine Unit Bill Akers – Marine Unit Keith Bennett – Marine Unit
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Marcus Williams (Excused)
CALLED TO ORDER: The General Membership Meeting was called to order at 1208 hrs by President Steve Eggert. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: The minutes from the October 31 General Membership Meeting in Shoreline were presented and discussed. A motion was made by Mark Lemoine to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by DB Gates. Motion passed. MARINE UNIT ELIGIBILITY LIST: Marine Unit personnel inquired if KCSO can retest for current Marine Unit vacancies while a current list exists. There is nothing in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that mandates using the current list or for that matter, even establishing a list at all. There is also no strong past practice throughout the KCSO on a testing process for vacancies and time periods for eligibility list (except Civil Service). In short, some units take who they want, while others put together a process before they take who they want. ARTICLE PERTAINING DIRECT BARGAINING BY THE SHERIFF: A recent article was published in the paper that the Sheriff wants to have the authority to bargain directly with the Guild instead of the King County Executive. The Sheriff believes her wishes are not being brought to the for front by King County’s negotiating team. This argument is contrary to past negotiations as well as the current negotiations. Not only is the Sheriff’s Office represented by two Division Chiefs, but the County’s lead negotiator was hand picked by Sheriff Rahr. The Sheriff’s position is even more disingenuous when you look at why negotiations started early in the first place. KCPOG agreed to start negotiations early at the request of the Sheriff and County Executive so an agreement might be negotiated over the Civilian Oversight issue. The Sheriff is clearly the most interested party in regard to Civilian Oversight (Oversight provides political insulation for the Sheriff). It should also be noted that early negotiations were halted at the Sheriff’s insistence because she wanted even more input at the bargaining table. The result was mentioned above, removing an attorney and picking another lead negotiator. As these notes have indicated in the past, among the avalanche of proposals brought forth and put on the table by the County, the overwhelming n umber are changes sought by the Sheriff’s Office. Any change in current bargaining process would require a change to the County Charter. The KCPOG strongly opposes any change in the current County Charter for many reasons. Of most concern is the issue of “Good Faith” in negotiations. How does the Sheriff propose to negotiate in “Good Faith” when she would have little if any control over fiscal issues? We also feel the bedrock American principle of Government Checks and Balances would be disrupted. There would be nothing to stop this Sheriff or future Sheriff from being fiscally irresponsible to the taxpayers in order to negotiate a settlement that was only in the interest of the Sheriff. Negotiating directly with the Sheriff would also have far reaching impact on the County’s negotiations with every other King County Labor Union. This would undoubtedly not serve in the taxpayers interest. The current system works and has a proper balance that provides sound contracts that are reasonable for all parties, including taxpayers. REDEPLOYMENT HARDSHIPS: Many of you may be aware that the Sheriff’s Office is having a hard time filling vacancies and managing non deployable resources. This has resulted in difficulties filling patrol districts. The KCSO has decided to redeploy Deputies/Detectives from other divisions. The decision on how this is to be accomplished has apparently been given to individual unit Commanders and or Division Chiefs. The result is a patchwork of who goes where, what shift and for how long. We understand that patrol districts must be covered and redeployment of certain units is a necessity and largely within management’s right in short term and operationally critical situations. However, there clearly needs to be a centralized policy that takes seniority and living locations into account when redeploying and disrupting lives of our workforce. The Guild will see if mutually acceptable policy can be established. NEW FTO PROGRAM / UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE: The Guild has filed an Unfair Labor Practice on the Sheriff’s Office “direct dealing” to the membership over a proposed new FTO program. Labor Law prohibits an employer from negotiating directly with individual employees, which is the case in matter. This is not the only issue that smacks of Boulwarism on behalf of the Sheriff. The Guild does not understand the decision making KCSO is using, as it is clearly violating Washington State and National Labor Law. The ULP also includes a Demand to Bargain over any changes to the current FTO program that involves wages, hours and working conditions. MATERNITY LEAVE AND DATES OF HIRE: Don Dougherty asked if the KCSO can adjust an individual’s date of hire because of time loss due to Maternity leave. NO. Article 6, Section 4 of the CBA states, “Employees who take unpaid leave for medical or family purposes will not have their seniority date adjusted.” ADJOURNED: The General Membership Meeting adjourned at 1245 hours. |