Spokane7
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November 11, 2009 in City
Deal with police guild to save 12 jobs, officials say
A tentative two-year deal Spokane city leaders made this week with the Spokane Police Guild will save 12 police officer jobs next year, administrators said today.
The guild is the last city union to reach a tentative agreement aimed at making concessions to prevent layoffs. Without the agreement, officials said the department would lose 22 positions. Because of attrition and a hiring freeze only two of those lost jobs would have been through layoffs.
If the agreement is ratified by the union’s membership and the Spokane City Council, the city likely will hire 10 officers next year.
Mayor Mary Verner’s 2010 budget strategy, which was endorsed by the council, has been to make up half of the expected $7 million deficit through union concessions.
Also this week, Local 270 of the Washington State Council of County and City Employees voted overwhelmingly in favor of an agreement that ensures no job losses within the union, said city administrator Ted Danek. He said concessions were approved with about 90 percent support.
Verner said she will not discuss details of the guild’s or Local 270’s agreements until they are discussed with the City Council next week in a private meeting out of courtesy to the council and the unions’ memberships.
The guild’s tentative agreement is a two-year contract. Verner declined to say if the saving will protect the police jobs for the length of the contract or just for next year.
MAC faces angry crowd 
liarsinnews on November 11 at 2:07 p.m.
Mayor Verner, continues to spend more taxpayer money than is taken in. Reckless spending at its worst.
IHike4Fun on November 11 at 4:10 p.m.
Keeping the police staff at appropriate levels is a good thing.
empyrius on November 11 at 6:14 p.m.
Why do government employees have a union?!? I thought unions were evil incarnate? They bust them up in the private sector, Wal-Mart makes their employees sign a contract stating they cannot organize! Communism man communism!
I will do the cops’ job for half the going wage!
biasedopinion on November 11 at 6:18 p.m.
Empyrius….did you not mention elsewhere that you had a felony conviction or was it just an arrest(s)?
empyrius on November 11 at 7:26 p.m.
Ok, ok, you busted me on that one biasedopinion. I have earnestly tried to be part of the solution these last few years since I changed my evil ways, but I am telling you brother, with the creditors hounding me nigh unto death coupled with my felonies, yes that is plural (all property stuff), no job is coming my way. Yeah, I hear you bro. I was just trying to be that good ole devil’s advocate.
I had my chance in 2005 when EWU accepted me for a grad program in history, but I felt sorry for myself b/c Gonzaga did not accept me into their philosophy Masters. Talk about being unphilosophical, coming from my background and not being grateful beyond measure that I was accepted into a Masters program of any kind!
Da**! Still kicking myself . . .
BitofBacon on November 11 at 8:48 p.m.
If the city is hiring 10 officers next year, maybe this would be a good time for you keyboard cowboys to put your big boy pants on and apply for the job. I’m thinking of Rifleperson_Dudd and lewis, to name a few. That is, if you could pass the background check. You could really show them how it’s done!
lewis8457 on November 11 at 11:32 p.m.
i had federal clearance several years ago, I have no fear of clearing the background hurdle but have no desires to work too close with our SPD other then watching 7 of them get their walking papers.
biasedopinion on November 12 at 2:33 a.m.
Federal clearance to do what? Enter into their (feds) building for maintenance work?
Presumptuous to say the least, but then again so are many of your postings.
BitofBacon on November 12 at 6:20 a.m.
Come on Lewis, be part of the solution instead of whining all the time. Of course, you would have to put in a 40 hour week and that might cut into your computer time.