|
|
 |
 |
by Dave Evans
Mayor Bloomberg is firing back at police and fire unions, saying he will not be intimidated by unions representing the NYPD and the FDNY. On Tuesday, union leaders said they are now considering a strike or sick outs during the Republican Convention if they do not get a new contract.
Political reporter Dave Evans has the story.
Police and fire have gone about two years now without a contract. So yes, they're increasingly frustrated with that. But why we're seeing so much activity right now is because of the Republican Convention coming to town. And because of what happened in Boston recently with police there right before the Democratic Convention began.
The mayor wants to give police, fire and teachers the same raise he gave other city employees -- four percent. The unions say no way.
They heckled him at a lunch stop on Tuesday, and on July 19th they began picketing outside the garden. And on Wednesday, they again shouted outside one of his events in Brooklyn.
Protesters Chanting: "Give us our pay and we'll go away."
Mayor Michael Bloomberg: "We're not going to go and commit to a wage settlement that we just cannot afford because one group thinks they can embarrass the mayor. The mayor is a little bit tougher than that."
It could be kind of embarrassing, though, if police and fire do as they hint and illegally strike at convention time.
Dave Evans: "Could we possibly see a strike though during the convention?"
Mike Morgillo, Patrolmen's Benevolent Assoc.: "Whatever the union says, we'll follow."
Dave Evans: "Is it legal?"
Mike Morgillo: "We'll have to find out through our attorneys."
A formal strike would be illegal, but that's not to say a lot of cops and fire fighters couldn't call in sick.
New York unions are borrowing a chapter from police in Boston. There, they threatened to strike and did everything to try to embarrass their mayor -- and it worked. Boston police got more than expected, a 14.5 percent raise over four years, settled just before John Kerry and the Democrats rolled into town. Police and fire hope for the same scenario here.
Jim Slevin, Uniformed Firefighters Assoc.: "Delegates from across the country will be coming to New York City. This is a convention that the mayor has brought to New York City, so we want the country to know how this mayor is treating his first responders, police officers and firefighters."
Yet if Wednesday was any indication, the mayor is not willing to compromise much on this one.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg: "And you can rest assured that I will not be intimidated by anything."
The mayor has offered police and fire more than four percent, actually about eight percent, if they agree to change some of their work schedules. The unions says that will mean more days on.
And so the standoff continues, 19 days before the convention begins.
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
