Dear Fellow Sergeant,

There have been many questions regarding where we are regarding the current contract negotiations. Yesterday, I called a Board meeting to update the Officers and Directors. First, let me say that there have been numerous phone conversations with City representatives. As recently as last Thursday and Saturday, we took calls and have been available on a moment’s notice for requests for information.

Our priority has been to permanently fix the salary steps that currently allow for an NYPD Sergeant to make less money than a top pay Police Officer. The City is looking for us as a whole to PAY for a solution to a problem they created years ago. The attrition bargaining experience implemented by the Office of Labor Relations (OLR) through these years still would have these Sergeants taking a loss upon promotion. This should be unheard of – and is totally unacceptable. There is not one Department anywhere that does not look at the NYPD as the best in the world, and NONE of them have supervisors making less money than their subordinates.

We understand everyone’s frustration, but let us be clear. What’s happening now is similar to what happened years ago when Mayor Giuliani gave us a contract with three years of zeros. That is not acceptable to the SBA Board.

Negotiations should never be one-sided. The whole purpose of a negotiation is for each side to give and take. At one point during these talks, we were reminded that there is one step where a Sergeant would make $22 more (a year) than a top pay cop. We thought it was a joke considering we could find more money on the streets walking a footpost in a week.

Over the past 22 years there have been numerous instances of attrition bargaining, which occurs when unions must pay for certain salary increases or other benefits by giving something back in return. In all instances, OLR has been the ultimate assessor of the “value” associated with these benefits and essentially would not agree to a deal unless the values were equal or in most cases favored the OLR. This, in essence, gives you just ten cents on the dollar.

The major sticking point with the current SBA dispute is that OLR believes the SBA paid an unequal value over past contracts compared to other unions. Over the course of contract history, the SBA has indeed paid for items in the past by extending the salary steps to 5 years, then at one time paid to decrease the steps to 4 years, and again extended to the current 5 years to obtain other benefits.

In addition, the differential in the salary steps were decreased so that most of the promotional increases were achieved after 5 years in rank. At the time other unions chose the options that their individual memberships wanted and voted to approve during that same time period.

But OLR was responsible for equating the values and of being satisfied with the value that the City received in exchange for the additional benefits. Moreover, OLR agreed to the extension of contracts and calculated the value of these extensions to ensure that the additional benefits were paid for.

The situation of Compression that currently confronts us is the result of pattern bargaining not being as absolute as OLR has presented many times over the past 20 plus years. OLR’s agreements have been one dimensional, not including the effect that a pattern-breaking advantage given to one union would negatively affect other unions. What we have submitted, which would correct salary steps, has NOTHING to do with Pattern Bargaining and would be paid for with certain concessions.

During the last 6 months we were asked to be a part of a failing 12-hour tour program that we would not agree to. The City claims these tours are cost neutral and will not be part of any future deal. These tours physically beat you up over time and allow for less time off due to personnel being needed on the streets at a time when we need to take back the city.

We have submitted numerous proposals to OLR that have even included language that would ensure that supervisors always receive greater compensation than subordinates. Unfortunately, we are still waiting almost a month later for a response to this proposal. Professional? I think not!

This contract has three distinct groups that it affects. Those who were wronged by making less money, those who benefitted through the shortsightedness of past “City” negotiators and went to top pay, and of course our senior Sergeants who are waiting for their hard-earned retro money. This again is about the entire membership. It is our belief that there are no “unborn” within our ranks.

We do not elevate civilians to supervisor positions, so us giving up future benefits will do nothing but water down our rank. The same situation has presented itself with our rank as it did when the City made the mistake years ago and cut the starting pay for recruits attending the Police Academy. The City corrected that situation back then at no cost to the PBA and needs to correct it now.

As far as letting everyone know exactly what goes on after every meeting, please understand that it would be counter-productive when we have a professional obligation to negotiate in good faith. However, if these talks somehow break down over the next month or two, we will prepare a timeline showing everything that has been done during this past year.

Although the path has been slow, arduous, and often infuriating, we are making progress and will keep you apprised of all developments as they occur. Thank you for your patience and support and for always performing your duties in such exemplary fashion.

Fraternally,

Vincent J. Vallelong
President
Sergeants Benevolent Association