The Priorities of the Bargaining Unit

Maybe it’s just an overzealous union leader, but it’s hard to believe that this isn’t a parody:

The Scranton police union has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the city for an off-duty drug arrest made by Police Chief Dan Duffy in March.
The complaint, which was filed with the state Labor Relations Board on April 14, takes issue with the chief arresting a man who was allegedly in possession of marijuana because the chief is not a member of the collective bargaining unit and was “off duty” when the March 20 arrest was made. …
… the union president said the chief, as member of management, should not actively root out crime or randomly patrol neighborhoods while off duty because it violates union agreements that protect rank-and-file officers’ employment. The union is concerned city administrators will have more leverage to lay off police officers because “Chief Duffy will step in” and do the work, Sgt. Martin said.

Somehow, the principle that labor agreements should come before public safety, and anything that increases the latter, doesn’t seem quite right. One might even call it immoral and wonder whether collective bargaining in the public sector doesn’t tend toward that sort of view.

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Mike Cappelli
Mike Cappelli
13 years ago

There is one way to deal with this crap, and it does not include negotiating!

JohnD
John
13 years ago

So why is it wrong to call them pigs?

Max Diesel
Max Diesel
13 years ago

There was a day when the rank and file would have trumpeted the chief for being a cop’s cop and a leader by example. I guess those are bygone days.

Monique
Editor
13 years ago

“The Scranton police union has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the city for an off-duty drug arrest made by Police Chief Dan Duffy in March.”
Seriously, this has to be a script excerpt from this Saturday’s SNL …

Rich
Rich
13 years ago

Im a union member and I wont hesitate to call BS on this. Its stupid. If he were my union Pres, I would make sure he knew that and he wouldnt be getting my vote.
There are idiots on both sides folk. You have yours too.
Ps. You could call us pigs if you like, but I dont know what that says about you. Are you only capable of thinking in generalities? Because one guy is an idiot we are all pigs?

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