Police push for raises
By William Henderson/ [email protected]
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Nearly 20 police union members walked along the sidewalk adjacent to the police department during the annual Open House last Thursday, holding signs accusing Town Manager Wayne Marquis of engaging in unfair wage negotiations and urging the town to support the Danvers police.
The demonstration, although organized before Town Manager Wayne Marquis received a pay raise for fiscal 2005, was fueled by the Board of Selectmen's decision, union leader Mike Hagan said.
"Basically, the Town Manager got his raise," Hagan said. "Now, we'd like ours."
Bright blue photocopied articles were given to residents touring the police department during Open House. These articles spelled out some of what angers the police union, including Marquis' decision to cut the school's DARE officer.
This is not exactly true, Marquis explained during a separate interview. Yes, he had to decide how to best distribute funds across the town's personnel during a year when local aid was cut by $1.5 million dollars, but this was achieved without cutting any currently-filled positions. Instead, one of two officers trained in the DARE program was reassigned as a regular patrol officer.
This week, Marquis was notified that the town's attempts to qualify for state monies to fund this second DARE officer failed. Marquis said he knows how valuable having two DARE officers is for the town and will continue to look for ways of funding this second officer.
Retired police officer James George joined the demonstration to support his brothers, he said.
"I hope the town negotiates so they [the officers] can get what they deserve," George said. "You couldn't ask for a better group of service providers."
The town's 44 union police employees have been working for more than 18 months without a contract. While Marquis has referred to these negotiations as being cordial and productive, these union employees refer to the negotiations as being anything but, blaming Marquis for failure to reach an agreement.
"Wayne...shame on you!" read a sign adhered to a van parked near the protesting officers. "Members who protect YOUR community ask YOU to NEGOTIATE FAIRLY. End the games, Wayne."
The negotiating sticking point, Hagan said, concerns a retroactive 3 percent raise for fiscal 2004, which ended June 30. Hagan made reference to such a raise for the fire department, but Marquis said as of Tuesday afternoon the town did not have a signed contract with the union fire department employees.
He also said that while salary negotiations tend to remain closed-door conversations, he didn't expect to agree to give union employees any less than what was given to non-union employees. For fiscal 2004, non-union employees were given a 1 percent base salary increase made effective June 30, 2004 and an additional 1 percent lump-sum payment. In addition, for fiscal 2005 non-union employees have received raises worth 3 percent, with 1 percent made effective July 1, 2004 and 2 percent effective Jan. 1, 2005.
Police officers hope residents call Marquis and ask him to get a new contract signed. A mediator has been assigned to help the negotiating process between police and the town and will meet with each side next week. Marquis hopes the mediator will help speed up negotiations.
Hagan said the town can expect to see more demonstrations.
"We're doing a fine job," Hagan said. "I don't know why he (Marquis) doesn't support us."
By William Henderson/ [email protected]
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Nearly 20 police union members walked along the sidewalk adjacent to the police department during the annual Open House last Thursday, holding signs accusing Town Manager Wayne Marquis of engaging in unfair wage negotiations and urging the town to support the Danvers police.
The demonstration, although organized before Town Manager Wayne Marquis received a pay raise for fiscal 2005, was fueled by the Board of Selectmen's decision, union leader Mike Hagan said.
"Basically, the Town Manager got his raise," Hagan said. "Now, we'd like ours."
Bright blue photocopied articles were given to residents touring the police department during Open House. These articles spelled out some of what angers the police union, including Marquis' decision to cut the school's DARE officer.
This is not exactly true, Marquis explained during a separate interview. Yes, he had to decide how to best distribute funds across the town's personnel during a year when local aid was cut by $1.5 million dollars, but this was achieved without cutting any currently-filled positions. Instead, one of two officers trained in the DARE program was reassigned as a regular patrol officer.
This week, Marquis was notified that the town's attempts to qualify for state monies to fund this second DARE officer failed. Marquis said he knows how valuable having two DARE officers is for the town and will continue to look for ways of funding this second officer.
Retired police officer James George joined the demonstration to support his brothers, he said.
"I hope the town negotiates so they [the officers] can get what they deserve," George said. "You couldn't ask for a better group of service providers."
The town's 44 union police employees have been working for more than 18 months without a contract. While Marquis has referred to these negotiations as being cordial and productive, these union employees refer to the negotiations as being anything but, blaming Marquis for failure to reach an agreement.
"Wayne...shame on you!" read a sign adhered to a van parked near the protesting officers. "Members who protect YOUR community ask YOU to NEGOTIATE FAIRLY. End the games, Wayne."
The negotiating sticking point, Hagan said, concerns a retroactive 3 percent raise for fiscal 2004, which ended June 30. Hagan made reference to such a raise for the fire department, but Marquis said as of Tuesday afternoon the town did not have a signed contract with the union fire department employees.
He also said that while salary negotiations tend to remain closed-door conversations, he didn't expect to agree to give union employees any less than what was given to non-union employees. For fiscal 2004, non-union employees were given a 1 percent base salary increase made effective June 30, 2004 and an additional 1 percent lump-sum payment. In addition, for fiscal 2005 non-union employees have received raises worth 3 percent, with 1 percent made effective July 1, 2004 and 2 percent effective Jan. 1, 2005.
Police officers hope residents call Marquis and ask him to get a new contract signed. A mediator has been assigned to help the negotiating process between police and the town and will meet with each side next week. Marquis hopes the mediator will help speed up negotiations.
Hagan said the town can expect to see more demonstrations.
"We're doing a fine job," Hagan said. "I don't know why he (Marquis) doesn't support us."
