2017
CONTRACT
"Contracts traditionally in the past had a ton of gray language. With this contract that gray language was really focused on and addressed and removed which is really, really critical," said Association President Clint Pace. "With all the contracts I've read and dealt with language wise this is really a good contract. The Chief definitely deserves credit for being reasonable and making sure the contract is fair and equitable." Pace noted significant changes in the contract: "Field Training Officers, in previous contracts, got no paid benefit in addition to their regularly hourly rate. Now with the new contract you get compensated for every training day," and, he said, "We were working 12-hour shifts, but our (personal and sick time) benefits reflected an 8-hour shift. What I negotiated in this contact, your current shift matches your benefits. Before, if you took a day off or called in sick for a day you were charged 12 hours but you only accrued eight hours."
Contract Duration: 4-year agreement ratified 11-25-13 and effective 7-1-13 to 6-30-17.
Wage Increases:
0% increase effective July 1, 2013.
3% increase effective July 1, 2014.
3% increase effective July 1, 2015.
3% increase effective July 1, 2016.
• Employees receive a one-time $700 signing bonus within 30 days of the execution of the contract.
With growing concern over the safety of it's police version of the Explorer, Ford Motor Company announced it will cover the specific costs to repair all vehicles with carbon monoxide leaks, according to an article from Fox61.com.
Police departments around the country have complained about high levels of carbon monoxide in the Police Interceptor. To address these concerns with the Police Interceptor Utility, Ford Motor Company said in a statement that it will pay for the repairs “regardless of age, mileage or aftermarket modifications made after purchase.”
For more information, click here for the Fox61.com article.
CONTRACT
“Sterling Heights continues to set the pace for top pay for police officers in the state,” said MAP Executive Director Fred Timpner. “They received a four-year contract, which tops out at $85,500. Additionally, Employees receiving duty disability pensions will be guaranteed healthcare for themselves and their families. Disability pensions will now be calculated with a higher multiplier of 2.8 percent for each year of service. If an Employee is injured or disabled in the line of duty and they are forced to retire, these improved disability benefits help take some of the worry out of getting hurt on the job.”
“This is huge from our members’ perspective. Before this contract, new Employees were not eligible for retiree healthcare,” said MAP Executive Board President Rich Heins. “Now they not only receive retiree healthcare for the member and their family, they also receive a full duty pension. Previously, their duty disability pensions were limited to 50 percent.”
Contract Duration: 4-year agreement ratified Sept. 5, 2017 and effective 7-1-17 to 12-31-19.
Wage Increases:
2.5% increase effective July 1, 2017 with top pay of $79,480.
2.5% increase effective July 1, 2018 with top pay of $81,454.
2.5% increase effective July 1, 2019 with top pay of $83,478.
2.5% increase effective July 1, 2020 with top pay of $85,552.
By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor
MAPO representatives recently participated in a meeting with the leadership of the West Michigan Policy Forum to discuss ways to tackle unfunded liabilities in communities without breaking the bank when it comes to the state’s budget. This meeting was connected with Gov. Rick Snyder’s Responsible Retirement Reform Task Force.
Attending on behalf of MAP members was Rich Heins, MAP President, to hear concerns of task force members which include state and local officials, private sector business leaders and employee representatives. Michigan Association of Police Organizations (MAPO) President Mike Sauger is a member of Governor Snyder’s task force. MAPO represents MAP and several other Michigan public safety unions.
“We’re going to have all the information first hand because he’s on that task force,” Heins said of Sauger.
The Feb. 15, 2017 meeting in Grand Rapids at Western Michigan University highlighted concerns leaders have with municipalities, such as Detroit and Flint, both previously placed under the leadership of state Emergency Managers to fix their budgets in an effort to avoid bankruptcy. Going forward Snyder and other leaders are trying to avoid situations like these where communities cannot afford to fully fund pension plans and retiree healthcare.
“Now the governor has taken this on as one of his causes,” Heins said. “He’s trying to figure out a way to fix it without it being entirely on the state.”
Union leaders want to ensure their members aren’t stuck paying the bill either now or in their retirement. “In the lame duck session this past year, there was an effort to pass legislation that would harm retirees and the prospect for retiree health care for active employees” Heins said.
Lawmakers are expected to have $292.2 million less in the General Fund to spend this year and on next year’s (FY) 2018 budget that starts Oct. 1, but $340.3 million more in the School Aid Fund (SAF) than expected; House Bill 466 would make it illegal to hold, talk or otherwise use a “portable electronic device” while driving, except for hands-free or voice-activated devices; the House has introduced legislation to ease gun registration and concealed carrying; the Senate passed legislation making Flint Michigan’s 11th Promise Zone to pool resources and use tax increment finances to help its students afford a college education; Gov. Rick Snyder signed a massive criminal justice reform package into law that supporters say will keep criminals from reoffending; and Geoffrey Fieger considers another run for Governor. These topics and more are highlighted in the May 18, 2017 Karoub Report.
- Lawmakers wrap up 2017 passing revised pension, retiree healthcare package
- Stabenow shows support for unions at MAP Open House
- Karoub Report highlights income tax, marijuana law, criminal justice reforms and more
- Prevailing wage repeal, carrying concealed weapons among issues featured in Karoub Report