Posted on 10/11/2004 1:34:58 PM PDT by sheikdetailfeather
Orlando Police Continue Fight Over Contract Terms
POSTED: 3:27 pm EDT October 11, 2004 UPDATED: 3:46 pm EDT October 11, 2004
More than 100 Orlando police officers were reportedly taking part in another protest Monday in their fight with the city over contract terms, according to Local 6 News.
Monday's protest is over longevity pay or the annual payment officers receive if they've put in at least five years of service. The amount can range from $600 to $2,200.
"They're contractually obligated to pay it even though our contract expired Sept. 30," police union labor spokesman Sam Hoffman said. "You don't stop paying police officers and this was actually being paid for the year that has just finished -- the city fiscal year."
Local 6 News videotaped several of the protesters signs that read, "Mayor Obey The Law," and "Support Your Police."
Officers protested in Orlando last week over a contract impasse over a 2 percent raise the city offered the officers.
The city said the raise was the rate all city employees received.
The union is disputing the claim, Local 6 News reported.
Monday's protest started at Orlando Police Department headquarters and went to City Hall.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Copyright 2004 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
I saw this protest on the way back from my lunch. They looked well organized, but they also had expressions on their faces that said, "Man, why do we have to do this?" A police officer carrying a protest sign is a sorry sight.
WFTV just showed all the police on the 6pm news. They said if they don't get the money they will take more extreme measures. They will embarrass the mayor when Kerry comes to town and picket since he is a Democrat and Kerry is a potential Democrat President. They will also begin a billboard campaign such as they did in 1993 and furthermore go to court.
Dyer has really screwed things up. I did not realize it was possible to screw things up so badly in such a short period of time. Good thing we did not elect him governor.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.