FOP Upset Over Contract Reopening

The focal point of the 2014 Indianapolis budget is how public safety is being funded.  City County Council Democrats and Republicans came to terms on a deal and approved the spending plan, Monday.

But, one organization says the budget fails to meet a contractual obligation.

The current police contract calls for a three percent raise on January 1, but the city is reopening it and beginning negotiations with the Fraternal Order of Police.

Controller Jason Dudich says that likely means a delay.

"Depending on what agreement is reached before the first of the year, I'm not quite sure when the raises will be done," he said.  "If you look at what happened to the fire department and what the tentative agreement is between the fire department and the city, they would receive a three percent increase, July 1."

The tentative fire contract includes a three percent raise next year and base salary increase each of the next two years.

FOP Vice President Rick Snyder says its not fair to make police negotiate based on a deal with the fire department.

"The simple thing to do is to fully honor the commitment that was already made," said Snyder.  "In fairness, we did the negotiation.  We did them in 2010 and this mayor and his representatives agreed to it.  Last year and now this year, they are wanting to not abide to their own agreement."

Snyder adds that these types of delays make recruiting new officers challenging.

"Here is what we are telling potential candidates for this police department, 'Come work for us, we promise you that we will pay you what we say and then we won't do that and then on top of that we haven't made any promotions in the last two years and we have no long term plan to make sure you have the backup and support that you need moving forward," said Snyder.  

The approved 2014 budget does set aside funds for potential raise, but Dudich says if there is no agreement on a contract by the end of the year, there will be no raises in 2014.

"Any potential raises would be absorbed in the budget," he said.  "What those are, we've assumed a percentage increase, but if it's higher or lower than that, it may differ.  We have worked with IMPD to make sure there is some level of funding identified in 2014 that can help cover some of the raises, if not maybe all of them.  But, it all depends on the type of raises they would receive, when they would receive them, and those eligible."