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<DIV><FONT size=4>Treating the police like this is only going to exacerbate the
issue. They deserve to be heard and to have their concerns seriously
discussed and addressed. This has not happened, hence the union
request. These actions taken with respect to the police officers' concern
is not unlike the endless labyrinth that the protagonist in Kafka's <EM>The
Trial</EM> is stuck in. This action will only piss off the officers more
and make further negotiations more difficult and less fruitful in my
opinion.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Why isn't the police chief at these meetings strongly
advocating for his employees? Remember when this subject first came up the
chief denied all knowledge that his officers were discussing a union to address
their employment compensation, treatment, and conditions concerns?
There is something very wrong with such a picture, and it is not the police
officers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV><FONT size=4>
<DIV><BR>Wayne A. Fox<BR>1009 Karen Lane<BR>PO Box 9421<BR>Moscow, ID
83843</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>(208) 882-7975<BR><A
href="mailto:waf@moscow.com">waf@moscow.com</A><BR></FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=the_ivies3@yahoo.com href="mailto:the_ivies3@yahoo.com">Tom Ivie</A>
</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, April 25, 2006 3:55 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] Council wont hear police union request
</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Council won’t hear police union
request </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR clear=all><BR
clear=all></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">By Omie Drawhorn Daily News staff
writer </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR clear=all></SPAN></FONT><FONT
face=Arial size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Published:
</SPAN></FONT><st1:date Month="4" Day="25" Year="2006"><FONT face=Arial
size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">04-25-2006</SPAN></FONT></st1:date><FONT
face=Arial size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR clear=all><BR
clear=all></SPAN></FONT><st1:City><st1:place><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Moscow</SPAN></FONT></st1:place></st1:City><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> police
want a union. That’s nothing new. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">City officials don’t
want them to have it. That also is nothing new. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">After numerous
attempts the police department is appealing once again to the City Council to
recognize its union. High turnover, the pay for performance plan, insurance
benefits and communication with the city are ! the officers’ main concerns.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Police thought this
week they were close to finally realizing their goal, but members of the Moscow
Administrative Committee think they can address officers’ concerns without a
union. The committee voted 2-1 Monday not to forward to the full council a
formal request that the city recognize the Moscow Police Protective Association
as a union. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Members of the Moscow
Police Department unanimously support forming a police union, said Lieutenant
Dave Lehmitz. But Administrative Committee members
</SPAN></FONT><st1:PersonName><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Linda Pall</SPAN></FONT><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> and John
Weber on Monday rejected the request. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Councilman Aaron
Ament voted in favor of the union. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“We’re a bunch of
cops,” said Cpl. Art Lindquist of the Moscow Police Department. “We’re doing our
best to negotiate, but this is out of our league.”
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A union would provide
the department with a permanent professional voice and a way to address
grievances. “We want to be team players, we want this to work and we’re
interested in seein! g what can be created,” Lindquist said. “But we’re looking
for a permanent fix, we’re looking to the future.”
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Lindquist said there
are no guarantees how future councils would respond, no matter how the present
council might handle business. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mayor Nancy Chaney
has had multiple conversations with the police department over the past few
months and talked with police departments in
</SPAN></FONT><st1:State><st1:place><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Washington</SPAN></FONT></st1:place></st1:State><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> and
</SPAN></FONT><st1:State><st1:place><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Idaho</SPAN></FONT></st1:place></st1:State><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> looking
for solutions. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Chaney joined the
Administrative Committee on Monday to address compensation, benefits and
contractual agreements as about 10 police officers observed from the audience.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Chaney proposed a
return to the step and grade pay scale for officers with a 3.5 percent pay raise
after each step and an increase in dependents’ medical benefits.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZ: 10.5pt">She also suggested
getting rid of the department’s at-will employment policy in which employees can
be fired at any time for any reason. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ament was not
satisfied. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“That’s not enough,”
he said. “The police have asked for a union, that’s what we’re dealing with.
Let’s have an up or down vote on whether or not we want a union.”
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Weber disagreed.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; 5pt: ">“What we have is
working quite well,” he said. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Pall called for
finding common ground amid the structure already in place. “We’re hoping to
accommodate all you want without collective bargaining,” she said.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ament said the
existing system cannot address the problems. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“If it could we
wouldn’t be here right now,” he said. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">City! Attorney Randy
Fife said council members will have to decide how much power they are willing to
give up if they allow a police union. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“I don’t love power
so much that I couldn’t deal with a union to set their pay,” Ament said.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Chaney said she
feared other city employees might follow suit and form their own unions, which
would take the power out of the hands of the City Council — which in turn would
take power away from the taxpayers. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Lindquist asked if
professional representation was in the cards. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“The closer you get
to professional representation, the closer you get to collective bargaining and
a union,” City Supervisor </SPAN></FONT><st1:PersonName><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Gary
Riedner</SPAN></FONT></st1:PersonName><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> said.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ament refused to
listen to suggestions if unionizing wasn’t part of the picture. “I’m not hearing
the word ‘union,’ ” he said. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 11.25pt"><B><FONT face=Arial
size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Omie
Drawhorn</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> can be reached at (208) 882-5561,
ext. 234, or by e-mail at odrawhorn@dnews.com. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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