Berry Boots Cop Union From HQ (NM - ABQ Pub Mayor)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | July 8, 2011 | Dan McKay / Journal Staff Writer

[CedarDave]

Mayor Richard Berry’s administration is kicking union leaders out of an office in the police headquarters Downtown.

The move comes after Darren White, Albuquerque’s director of public safety, directed the police and fire chiefs to ensure that no city equipment or property is used by labor organizations. The city has provided rent-free office space to the Albuquerque Police Officers’ Association for several years, the administration said.

“We think unions ought to be doing things on their own time and their own dime,” said Rob Perry, the top administrator under the mayor.

Union leaders say they will abide by the directive.

But the office’s proximity to police executives made it easy to communicate and solve employment disputes before they end up in court, said Joey Sigala, president of the Albuquerque Police Officers’ Association.

The union owns the computers and furniture in the office, Sigala said, and spent $10,000 to $15,000 to install tiles and improve the space. He said the APOA is looking for another spot Downtown to set up a new office for the union.

The use of city resources for political or union activities has been a problem, Perry said.

In any case, Perry said he and other members of the administration, like everyone else, must abide by prohibitions on using city resources for political activity.

[CedarDave]

The ABQ mayor has taken the lead in other areas. For example, alleged criminals who are arrested must demonstrate citizenship or legal immigration status or are reported to the INS. Of course, the libs just cry over that. And I believe all who are arrested must give a DNA sample.

[CedarDave]

NM list PING! Click on the flag to go to the Free Republic New Mexico message page.

(The NM list is available on my FR homepage for anyone to use. Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list. For ABQ Journal articles requiring a subscription, scroll down to the bottom of the page to view the article for free after watching a short video commercial.)

[ABQHispConservative]

I knew union reps were freeloaders, but damn. The city should demand rent from these thief’s.

[Respond Code Three]

I agree. For a time, when I was a member of our association, we rented an office from the county. In time, we bought our own facility which I much preferred to the county office.

[NV Lawdog]

Our assoication is similar; it rents an office space paid for by the dues of the members with all of the utilities and a secretary paid out of the treasury also.

[TexasNative2000]

$10,000 to $15,000 to install tile? That’s what you get for using union labor....

[thefactor]

Is there a difference between association and union?

[Dahoser]

But the office’s proximity to police executives made it easy to communicate and solve employment disputes before they end up in court, said Joey Sigala, president of the Albuquerque Police Officers’ Association.

Translation: You took away our freebies, now every little thing we don't like is going to cost you in court.

[TheOldLady]

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My vicious cat Rocket cruelly cuts one from the herd

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[MAKOTHEDOG]

Good news, Hopefully we will see this trend continue.