PAX Centurion - May / June 2015

Page 38 • PAX CENTURION • June/July 2015 617-989-BPPA (2772) The state of policing in 2015… From Secretary on page 7 their escape, not be arrested or questioned. We knew we would see people at their worst and have to deal with what came with that. We all knew our roles… except now we have a different kind of wolf to deal with. This wolf has a plan. His plan is to attack the sheepdog. If the sheepdogs are injured or afraid what would the sheep do? There could only be two choices….Be slaughtered by the wolf or conform to the wolf’s way of life. Sadly it seems now that the figurative target on our back is not our biggest problem anymore. We learned on June 2 nd , a Tuesday morn- ing that we have a real target on our back. We may have thought it or felt it but we now know it. If not for the actions of that group of police officers and agents we would have had to live with a tragedy. They were forced to make a decision that they will live with forever but I believe they acted righteously and saved lives. We saw it again on Saturday, June 13 th , another attack on police officers. Dallas Police officers were attacked. As the facts come out it seems like “a lone gunman” with a grudge against the “system” (as well as his mother) “acted out” against the DPD. The idea of some- one buying an armored van, building multiple pipe bombs, strategi- cally placing said bombs and attacking police officers is “acting out” or any other politically correct term media may want to attach to the act is disingenuous to say the least. It was a plot, a planned attack on Law Enforcement. The man attacked police to spread terror. By definition he is a terrorist. No problems here right? Other than those that hate us, those that don’t care and are willing to attack us and those that plan and hunt us not too much to worry about. Let’s keep in mind those, particularly in the media, that not only condone and excuse these acts of violence against police, but in some cases promote it. This is pretty ominous stuff. But let me try to end this on a poten- tially more positive note. We have each other. There is no one we can trust more that the girl or guy next to us. Look out for one another. It really is that easy. If we show up at each other’s calls, if we pay attention to our surroundings and if we simply communicate with each other we will be safer. I also believe there is a “silent majority” out there among society that appreciate what we do and who we are. I believe they know we all live our lives trying to be not only good cops but good parents to our children, good husbands and wives. We volunteer our free time to work in communities, coach youth sports teams, maybe lead a Brownie Troop or Scout Pack while we take care of our families. All the while we have to live with these threats that no one else lives with like we do. This group will cease being silent and advocate for us someday (I truly believe it). They are watching and they know without the sheepdogs they will be thrown to the wolves. No one wants to be thrown to the wolves… not them and certainly not us. BPPA Health & Safety Issues I n our Collective BargainingAgreement with the City of Boston we have a Health & Safety clause, Article XVI, Sec. 6, appropri- ately titled “Health and Safety.” That clause allows the BPPA to file a Grievance, under the normal procedure, when there is a complaint with respect to unsafe and/or unhealthy working conditions. These issues are normally easily resolved. It often only takes a dis- cussion with a shift supervisor or commanding officer to fix a problem. When that does not work, whatever the reason may be, you can address it at the next step of the Grievance Process. One way of doing that is simply email your Rep, one of the Union officers or one of the mem- bers of the Joint Health & Safety/Labor Management Committee. Another mechanism that has been established is as simple as send- ing a generic email to healthandsafety@bppa.org . We check that email frequently for issues raised and then that information can be passed on to the Committee. The more information you can provide the better with regard to the nature, location, how long it has been an issue etc. If you can snap a photo or two of the problem that is always helpful. Once you have made someone aware of the problem don’t quit on it. As members with issues you have the right, and quite frankly the responsibility, to make sure someone is doing something about it. Not every issue raised will be corrected immediately but you should know where it slowed down or that the Department and/or City are not going to address it. Though it would be unreasonable to file for Arbitration for lack of hand towels or over flowing trash in the guardroom every once in a while it certainly warrants being addressed and sometimes, when they are all added up, they are bigger problems than they seem and should be taken as far as Arbitration. Things like mold or poor air quality are serious issues that should be addressed. Safety equipment that is sorely lacking in some work- places needs to be brought to both the Department and the BPPA’s at- tention. Vehicles we operate should be in top condition and we should accept nothing less. I could go on with big and small examples but I think the point is made. As I said before, most of the issues can be settled with a mem- ber and/or Rep speaking to the Captain and I believe that is the best method to start with. Please know the BPPA will certainly advocate for and demand safe workplaces for the members. Detail Rate increase and the 18 Hour Rule T he increase in the Paid Detail rate took effect at 0001 on June 6 th . Any detail that began on June 6 th should reflect the new rate when you are paid for the work. Details that began on June 5 th, regard- less of what date they ended, will reflect the old rate as the system is date based, not hourly. Please monitor your pay stubs and ensure you are being paid correctly. When you fill the “old cards” out all you need to do is mark whether it is construction or non-construction. Redline/Non-Redline does not apply and should be disregarded. I am sure any slips marked incorrectly will be delayed. The BPPA raised this issue prior to the June 6 th date and the Department had faith it would work out fine until the new slips were distributed. If that is not the case please let your Rep or someone at the BPPA know. As far as the 18 hour rule goes, I understand there is a smaller percentage of the membership that is upset by the change. The flexibility the old system allowed for worked for some members. What the old system also did, to a greater majority of members, was exposed some members to work extended hours and therefore exhaustion. In most cases brought to the BPPA’s attention these shifts and assignments were burdensome, not desired and put members in jeopardy due to lack of rest. Though we are limited to 18 hours in how many hours we can work in any consecu- tive 24 period the 90 hour rule has not changed. If you chose to work 90 hours from Saturday to Saturday you still can. In fact if my math is right you could have 18 hours worked in each of 5 days (90 hours) See Secretary on page 39