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Details to remain non-prioritized
Last month, the BPPA secured a settlement that will ensure that the detail system will not become prioritized and won’t be subject to being shut down until specific details are taken.
Included in the settlement was the establishment of “Redline” Details. These details will a) be traffic and construction related details, performed on streets that have been designated as Snow Emergency Arteries and/or Designated Primary Evacuation Routes; and b) details required at Special Events that the Chief, BFS designates as Redline Details,
except that all details at Fenway Park and the TD North Bank Garden shall be designated as Redline details.
Standard details shall include all details not designated or established as Redline details.
The pay rate for Redline details shall be $37 per hour and the pay rate for standard details shall be $33 per hour. There will no longer be inside/outside details.
Also changed as a result of this settlement was the number of hours that an
officer can work in a week. The rule will now read in part “No officer shall work more than ninety (90) hours in one week, from 8:00am Saturday until 7:59am the following Saturday. These hours shall include regularly scheduled tours of duty, court time, and paid details. Any tour of duty missed due to illness, suspensions, or administrative leave shall also be included in the calculation of total hours worked for a week”. Though this is a deduction of six hours a week, the 320 hour monthly limit has been removed. This will allow an officer to work 360 hours a month without fear of disclipline.
Like with any settlement, there is always the issue of what the BPPA gave up. First and foremost, the BPPA agreed to release the City from all claims or other remedy related to MUP-1758 (Unfair Labor Practice) which dealt with the prioritization and the “shutting down” of detail lists.
The BPPA also agreed to amend the MUP filed relative to the Tactical Bike Unit. The BPPA waived the issue of the Bike Unit’s creation but retained the grievance as it relates to the composition of the unit (Muni’s, BHA etc) and their use in order to circumvent overtime in the districts. Those issues are going forward.
The BPPA also settled MUP-2267 (Latent Print 1) which dealt with officers from the ID unit being denied overtime. The BPPA settled that MUP for $40,000 and that money will be distributed to those officers who were affected.
The BPPA also agreed to withdraw Grievance #16-1563 regarding the weekly payments of Quinn Bill benefits. The BPPA had filed a grievance because the contract calls for the Quinn Bill payment to be made once a year and not on a weekly basis.
The Department shall endeavor to implement the terms of this agreement by April 15, 2006, but, at the latest, shall implement it on or prior to May 1, 2006
BPPA and City to begin bargaining
In a refreshing change of pace, the City of Boston Labor Relations department has
responded to the BPPA’s multiple requests to begin bargaining for the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. As we know, in the past, the City has failed to begin contract talks with the BPPA, or any unions for that matter, prior to the expiration of their contracts. The BPPA Bargaining Committee has made a point of informing the City of the BPPA’s desire to begin negotiating a fair contract without the tension and hard feelings that have been so publicly present in the past few contracts. The BPPA and the City have agreed to meet on March 28th and April 6th.
The City recently put on a presentation at Northeastern University and invited all of the unions to attend. During that presentation the City told the Unions that they did not have the money that the Unions thought they had and that they were in tough fiscal times because of the reductions in the amount of local aid they receive from the State.
The City also cited the rising costs of Health Care as a reason that they were not going to have the money for big contracts.
The BPPA welcomes the chance to negotiate a contract for its members as opposed to having an outsider decide what’s best for our members. We hope that the changes in the City’s Labor Relations Department and their apparent desire to enter into talks will do just that.
Passes available for BPPA members
The BPPA has purchased memberships at the following entertainment venues:
1) The Boston Children’s Museum, 2) The New England Aquarium, and 3) ZOO New England (Franklin Park & Stone Zoos).
The passes are available, to BPPA members, by contacting the BPPA at 617-989-2772 and will be distributed on a first come first served basis. The passes to the Children’s Museum and the Aquarium will be limited to four (4) passes per family. The pass to ZOO New England is good for up to 6 people per day and can be used every day of the week.
BPPA Members win TOP COPS Award
The BPPA is proud to announce that two of its members,Al Young and Ben Sealy, have been chosen to receive one of the ten 2006 TOP COPS Awards. The TOP COPS Awards pay tribute to the men and women in law enforcement for their outstanding service to America’s communities. Al and Ben were chosen, after being nominated, for their bravery and courage displayed when faced with an armed man who had just committed a murder in the Theater District. Their incident was chosen out of hundreds of nominations.
Congratulations to Ben and Al on a job well done.
BPPA endorses Denise Watson and Ann Burke for Credit Union Directors
The BPPA has proudly endorsed BPPA member Denise Watson and Ann Burke, the wife of BPPA member Jack Burke (Area D4) for election to the City of Boston Credit Union. The election will be held April 6th, 2006 at Boston City Hall. Please consider the two BPPA endorsed candidates.
Bulletproof vest info needed
The BPPA is seeking information about vest failures specifically the velcro part of the vests. If this applies to your vest, please contact Pat Rose (617)989-2772 with your name, ID #, size of vest, and date of vest manufacture (inside panel)
Residency Hearing
tentatively set for April 13th
In response to the resolution offered by City Councilor John Tobin, the Committee for Government Operations has set a tentative date of April 13th, 2006 for a hearing concerning the City’s residency requirement. City Councilor Maureen Feeney chairs this committee.
The BPPA is preparing a fact sheet for presentation at this hearing. All BPPA members who are interested in the issue are urged to attend the hearing.
Award Luncheon
The BPPA Awards Committee is seeking nominations of exceptional incidents of police work performed by BPPA members. The BPPA will honor those members selected at a luncheon that will be held sometime in May. It will be the second such luncheon held, with the first being held in October 2005.
The BPPA hopes to acknowledge, in some small way, the outstanding work done, by its members, on a daily basis.
If you feel that there is an incident worthy of nomination, please forward the 1.1 to the BPPA c/o the Award Committee 9-11 Shetland St, Boston, Ma 02119 or fax 617-989-2779.
The rumor mill is in full gear with the recent article in the Boston Globe on March 21(Merger of police in Boston weighed). Though there certainly appears that the merger of officers from the Boston Municipal Police, is something that is being actively explored by the City, there has still been no official approach, abouta merger, to the BPPA.
Normal thinking would make you think that a move of this magnitude would include some input from the union that represents current Boston Police Officers. The BPPA realizes that the department is in the midst of a manpower shortage. That being understood, assuming that the City could even legally merge the two departments, serious issues concerning Civil Service, rank, and
seniority would have to be addressed.
The BPPA will continue to monitor this very important issue and will update the membership if,and when, the City notifies the BPPA of their final intentions.
International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) announces the 2006 Edward J. Kiernan Scholarship
IUPA will award 10 graduating high school seniors, who intend on pursuing a career in law
enforcement, labor relations, or a related field, a one time scholarship of $2500.
Applications are available at the BPPA or from your shift representatives. Deadline April 30, 2006
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