Ruling could set stage for strike

February 27, 2005

BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter

Chicago could be facing its first municipal employees strike in nearly 25 years if an arbitrator's imminent ruling on a new police contract fails to break the logjam that has forced 30,000 unionized employees to work without contracts for nearly two years.

After 22 months and 57 sessions of nowhere bargaining, Chicago Federation of Labor President Dennis Gannon is waving the ultimate trump card: He's threatening to lead the troops out on strike -- minus police officers and firefighters, who are expressly forbidden from walking out.

 

Police union hopes arbitrator's last decision not repeated

Three years ago, an independent arbitrator awarded Chicago Police officers a 16 percent pay raise over four years in exchange for reforms aimed at bolstering experience levels in high-crime districts and strengthening the city's hand in disciplining wayward officers.

The contract was virtually identical to the one union members had rejected a year earlier. It was an almost total victory for Mayor Daley.

This time, the Fraternal Order of Police is hoping for a reversal of fortune -- or at least a split decision.

According to the FOP Web site, the union is seeking: a 3 percent pay raise retroactive to July 1, 2003, and 4 percent in each of the next four years; a first-ever "residency stipend" to compensate police officers for private school tuition, higher insurance rates and other expenses tied to being forced to live in the city; elimination of the sixth workday and a 10-hour work schedule; a clause that would allow officers to "sell back accumulated compensatory time for cash," and top pay after just 20 years of service instead of 30.

Rank-and-file officers would also receive a minimum of three hours of time-and-a-half pay for court appearances, full health insurance retirement benefits at age 55 instead of 60, and an expanded ability to bid for key unit assignments, furlough and watches on the basis of seniority. The union would no longer be required to reimburse the city for the salaries of the FOP president and six other union officers, a cost pegged at well over $800,000 a year.

Fran Spielman

 

 

He would say only that if an arbitrator's ruling expected this week fails to quickly trigger agreements with all other city unions, a strike or temporary job action could be next.

Free to 'withhold services''

Since 1985, state law has prohibited police officers and firefighters from striking. Instead, they must abide by results of interest arbitration. All other city unions have no-strike clauses that prohibit walkouts during their contracts. But since those agreements expired June 30, 2003, non-police and fire employees are free to "withhold services" provided they have a bargaining representative, start the mediation process and give the city five days' notice. All of those conditions already have been met -- with the exception of the five-day warning.

"It's not a threat. It's a tool labor can use if we're at the end of our rope, and we're pretty much at the end of our rope right now. We've waited 22 months. That's the longest time in the history of Chicago. In 57 meetings, there's been no substantial dialogue," Gannon said.

"We don't want to punish anyone, but we need to take a stand if we're not getting the respect and dignity we deserve. We've had rallies, picketing, town hall meetings. We're trying to exhaust every avenue we can to get the city's attention before we pull the trigger. The next two weeks will be very critical."

"We are ready, willing and able to discuss any issue subject to collective bargaining. In this case, it is our understanding that the unions have chosen not to discuss health care issues while we are waiting for the FOP interest arbitration," Hoyle said.

Strike under Byrnee

"We do expect that arbitration award to come down at any time now. Once it does, we expect to make substantial progress with all of the other unions. We think we'll be able to resolve these issues. We have always had a unified health care plan for all city employees. The FOP interest arbitration award will address the health care plan."

Former Mayor Jane Byrne was hit with a one-day strike by CTA employees and a 23-day strike by Chicago firefighters during a tumultuous first year in office after her 1979 election. The Chicago Board of Education endured nine teachers strikes in 19 years, culminating in a 19-day walkout in 1987.

But since that time, Chicago has enjoyed labor peace with its municipal employee unions. A privatization frenzy and prolonged budget crunch that triggered hundreds of layoffs and repeated demands for unpaid furlough days has strained Daley's once-cozy relationship with organized labor, but never to the breaking point.

Last year, the tide began to turn.

The mayor's negotiating team formally asked city employees -- including police officers and firefighters -- to take three unpaid furlough days to help erase a $220 million budget shortfall.

The demand went over like a lead balloon -- particularly on the heels of Daley's other requests: that employees forfeit their right to back pay; accept flexible, Tuesday-through-Saturday and Wednesday-through-Sunday schedules to minimize overtime; agree to an entry-level salary for the building trades that's roughly 60 percent of the normal rate, and swallow a four-year freeze on the city's contribution to health care. The draconian health care proposal has since been rescinded.

'Dump Daley'

Union leaders responded by turning up the political heat on City Hall. They scheduled town hall meetings in five wards to give angry city employees who live in those wards a chance to plead their case with the local aldermen. The public relations offensive culminated in a raucous December rally that allowed hundreds of city workers to vent their anger by marching around City Hall chanting, "Dump Daley."

Last week, union leaders held the first of seven more town hall meetings in hopes that aldermen who get an earful from city workers will start pressuring Daley to cut a deal once the new police contract establishes the parameters..