The three-year contract dispute between the city and the police union could soon be at an end.
While police and city administrators declined to discuss the negotiations or any details that might be included in a possible contract, the police union was scheduled to meet this morning, Oct. 19, to consider a proposed contract. It was unclear whether the union would vote on the contract Wednesday morning.
The police union’s president, Detective John Desjardins, confirmed that a union meeting was scheduled and a contract proposal would be presented to the union at the meeting. He said the union could vote on the proposal at the meeting, or it could also elect to delay a ratification vote in order to allow members more time to study the proposal.
Once the union ratifies any contract proposal, it must also be approved by two votes of the City Council. The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 7, which is the day before the citywide elections. While he declined to discuss the negotiations, Mayor Bruce Chuluda said if a settlement were reached before that date, he would call for a special meeting of the City Council before Nov. 7 to get the contract settled as quickly as possible.
While he is unable to comment specifically on the contract negotiations, Chuluda said there has been a fundamental disagreement between what the police want and what the city can provide. “It’s got to be something that’s not only fair to them, but fair to the taxpayer,” Chuluda said.
City Administrator Jerre Bryant also declined to discuss the possibility of a settlement. He did describe the latest round of discussions between the city and the union as productive and said the discussions would be continuing sometime this week.
The major sticking point in the negotiations over the past three years has been the issue of retirement pay. The police union has been pushing to return to the Maine State Retirement System, with officers eligible to retire after 20 years. The city has contended that option is too expensive to consider and wants the police to remain under their current retirement system, which is similar to a 401 (k) program.
The dispute recently went before a fact finding panel of the Maine Labor Relations Board. After hearing the case, the panel issued a report to both the city and the union last month. The contents of the report are confidential for 30 days from the date it is issued. The report inolving the Westbrook police contract will become public on Oct. 22, though both sides hope to have a settlement before then.
The prolonged contract dispute has affected morale in the department. While officers are barred from striking, signs of their displeasure with the negotiations are evident. For over a year, many officers have been wearing blue buttons reading “Serving without a contract” on their uniforms. When the new Public Safety Building was getting ready to open last year, members of the police union picketed outside the building and refused to move into the new building for almost a week, working instead out of their cars.
The union has also made its case to the public and the City Council, with members speaking out at public comment periods at City Council meetings.
Some councilors have been frustrated by the prolonged dispute, and that is compounded by the fact that the council is not allowed to take part in any of the negotiations. Councilor Brendan Rielly said last week he had to be careful to stay out of the negotiations, though he said he hoped the dispute is settled soon.
“It’s been a very frustrating process because I haven’t been able to be directly involved in it,” he said.
Rielly said, going forward, he thought the council and the administration should explore the possibility of having a representative of the council take part in contract negotiations.
“Looking forward, that might be something we need to take a look at,” he said.
Also in an interview last week, Councilor John O’Hara said while it is not uncommon for public sector contract negotiations to take a very long time, he is also hoping for a settlement. “The process had to play itself out here in Westbrook,” he said. “We really do have an excellent police force in this city and they should be compensated for that.”
For the latest news on the police contract negotiations, visit the American Journal’s Web site at www.keepmecurrent.com.
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