A show of support for the three police officers slated for layoffs at the end of June is expected
at tonight's Township Committee meeting. Several sources indicate numerous police union members from Maplewood and other communities
wil attend the 7:30 p.m. meeting in a show of unity for the police.
Meanwhile, the question of whether the Maplewood Police Union gets a new contract is now in the hands of an arbitrator,
according to Township Administrator Joseph Manning.
Following the last meeting several weeks ago with
binding arbitrator Jeffrey Tener, which did not produce an agreement, both sides are required to submit attorney briefs with
Tener, who will determine what a new contract will
include.
The contract question comes up as the layoffs of three police officers loom June 30 and no contract or raises have occurred
for more than three years. With the union's last contract ending in early 2006, a new deal is needed.
The last previous negotiations occurred back in March, when the township offered a 3.25% raise
per year for three years and the union requested 5%. There is also an issue of health benefits, which have already sparked
an unfair labor complaint by the union related to the township switching health care providers.
But, more recently, township officials announced the pending layoff of three officers, slated
at the moment for June 30. Earlier this year, the layoffs were announced, along with three firefighters. But, within weeks,
the firefighters union had agreed to a deal that included higher health benefit payments for their union members in an effort
to keep the three firefighters.
At the same time, township
officials announced that they believed the three police layoffs could be rescinded as well through expected federal grant
money. But, just weeks ago, they reversed that, stating grant money for police was not expected until at least this fall.
The three police layoffs were on again, and are now planned for June 30.
