Cops need a hug too

Early this week, the mayor unveiled a new mandate for residents in city of Columbus: “Hug a firefighter if you see one today,” he told reporters Monday.

The mayor continued to sing the praises of the city’s firefighters, whose union representation voted to “save lives—and save jobs,” by foregoing 2009 pay raises they’d already spent hours negotiating.

The decision saved a few million bucks, and helped plug a $90 million hole in the city’s 2009 budget.

“It’s a time of sacrifice and responsibility,” Coleman said, evoking the spirit of President Obama’s inaugural address, adding that he was “sad and disappointed” that four unions, including reps for the police and city hall workers, declined his offer to embrace a new era of responsibility.

But as the week progressed, it turned out the cops weren’t such bad guys, either. They just weren’t as quick to blink in this staring contest—even after Coleman threatened that CPD’s newly trained class of 27 officers would have to be laid off to save cash. By Wednesday, though, there were signs that might not have to happen at all.

The mayor was set to meet with council members yesterday, as The Other Paper was going to press, concerning a proposal prepared by Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9 president Jim Gilbert, who said he’s found other ways to help the city cut its remaining $13 million budget deficit, in order to save the 114th class of recruits who were set to graduate Friday.

“The city is stating this is a layoff pending the availability of finding a way to save some money,” said Gilbert. “It’s got to be something the city is willing to take before I take it back to my members. But we’re back at the table and we’re looking at everything.”

The mayor’s office confirmed Wednesday afternoon that it’s hoping to save the recruits, who were told only a day earlier they were being laid off, effective Feb. 27.

“The mayor will be very pleased if $1.25 million could be saved elsewhere so these layoffs would not have to take place,” said the mayor’s spokesman, Dan Williamson

The Wednesday meeting with council also was to address additional cost-cutting measures, including the possibility of other layoffs in other offices. Williamson said the mayor hopes council votes on the measures Feb. 9.

The city has been working on slashing a 2009 city budget deficit of more than $90 million since November. Thus far, some 120 city employees have lost their jobs, and most of the city’s recreation centers have been closed.

On Jan. 14, Coleman asked five of the cities unions to accept pay freezes—or face layoffs— to help eliminate the remaining $13 million deficit. He gave them a Jan. 23 deadline.

Only the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 67 agreed to the request, on the condition that it would not “forego” pay raises and bonuses, but merely “suspend” them until further notice. The cooperation prompted the mayor’s figurative hug.

It was a kick in the teeth to police officers, said Gilbert, who had four officers shot and one stabbed in the face in the line of duty in 2008.

“I think that’s an insult to the police officers,” said Gilbert. “And that’s not a slam to the firefighters—they risk their lives too, and the fire union can’t control what the mayor says. But we had four officers that could have been killed (four Columbus officers were shot in the line of duty in 2008) and there was no public outcry from any politician to go hug a cop. It’s a little insulting.”

“We’d look like heroes, too, if the mayor would negotiate raises for us to reject,” said Gilbert.

The FOP, who last received a 4 percent pay increase in December of 2007, claim they were never offered 2009 raises to forego.

“We understand the economic times and we’re sensitive to the city’s needs,” Gilbert said. “Our families have felt that, too. But bring us something we can defer or bring back to the table to offer our members.”

The mayor’s office denies they threw the first pitch in a game of hardball.

“Everybody sat in the same meeting and everybody got the same letter,” said Williamson.

“If everybody had rejected the request, than that might be a legitimate question.”

The mayor gave his ultimatum to the city’s five unions—IAFF, FOP, FOP/Ohio Labor Council, Columbus Municipal Association of Government Employees Local 4502, American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees.

He also made that ultimatum public.

While the mayor’s office was busy hugging firefighters for, as Williamson said, getting “the message”—the FOP, which represents 1,800 police officers, filed an unfair labor practice charge against Coleman with the State Employment Relations Board for using the public to “strong-arm” the union into agreeing to his ultimatum, Gilbert said.

The other four unions weren’t filing complaints, but they weren’t making happy, either. AFSCME, who’s had a contract in place with the city since April, sent a firm “no” to the mayor’s offer Friday, saying it’s paid its dues—500 of its members have been laid off in the last six years.

“We’re not interested,” said Doug Moore, president of AFSCME’s 2,500-member union, comprised of 9-1-1 operators, trash collectors, maintenance workers and office workers. “I think we’ve done our part.”

CMAGE, which represents 1,200 of the city’s technical, professional and supervisory employees, also was in the midst of negotiations when the mayor issued his deadline request. It began negotiations in July; the CMAGE contract expired in August.

“All of us know the kind of economic times we’re living in,” said Brien Bellous, CMAGE president. “The biggest issue for us is the spending. We’re not saying that he hasn’t cut spending, because we see it all over. It’s just that there are many things still out there that need addressed.”

Williamson said if the mayor’s office thought there was extra fat in the budget to cut, he would have done it before he started laying off workers.

“If there was more fat to cut, there wouldn’t have been the closure of the rec centers,” he said. “We cut through the fat, through the skin, and now we’re into the bone.”

Safety services, including police and fire, makes up at least 71 percent of the city’s budget, said Williamson.

CPD deputy chief Walter Distelzweig said there will be no immediate effect on the city’s emergency services if proposed cuts are made, though Columbus residents may see a slow response time on non-emergency services.

“Immediately, I don’t think we’ll see any effect,” he said. “But there will definitely be an impact as we go through the rest of the year.”

The mayor’s office expects there won’t be any impact at all—now or later.

“It’s a matter of smart policing,” said Williamson. “The mayor both trusts and expects his division of police to keep people safe.”

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