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not been the case with our Lodge the past three years. It all starts with custom- er service for the members, and we plan to address every expectation they have ever had. Period.
That said, let’s get on to the gorilla in the room, the Mount Everest in front of us. We have a game plan for attacking the contract. We are going to back to ne- gotiations with a fresh set of eyes, a new committee to get some movement with the Department and the City.
We are not rescinding our original move to arbitration. We are rescinding our request for an arbitrator, so we can go back and negotiate some things.
I didn’t get a chance to sit down with the City and start talking about some of the particulars until the end of May. But we are in a good negotiating position because of the consent decree. Judge Dow has been clear that the City has to negotiate anything it wants to imple- ment that would change our collective bargaining agreement. The City cannot force anything down our throats, so that puts us in a strong bargaining position.
If there is no movement by the end of this year, we will proceed with arbitra- tion. But let me say it again, loud and
clear: I believe that in one year, we’re going to have the contract settled. And it will be a good contract.
Clearly, we have a backlog of work that is COVID-related. We have to hold unit rep elections. We have to appoint com- mittees. And we have a number of issues to discuss with the Department.
We have started a dialogue with the City, and we have to pick and choose our spots to find some common ground going forward. One of the biggest issues is the governor’s stay-at-home order vio- lating citizens’ constitutional rights. We are concerned about how that could put our members in precarious situation re- garding civil rights violations by enforc- ing the order.
I have tempered my approach when sitting down with the mayor because I wanted to get a better idea of where she’s at. She was probably very happy with the previous administration because it was not very forceful. That was a different tactic. We are now better suited to chal- lenge her.
That’s because we have a voice now. A bold voice. Every member will hear it loud and clear.
THE 4-1-1
Information about education, training, fundraisers, fun and more...
The FOP Picnic at Six Flags Great America has been postponed to 2021.
July 18
50th Anniversary Memorial Tribute Hon- oring Sergeant Severin & Officer Rizzato 18th Chicago Police District
Division and Larrabee Streets, Chicago
11 a.m., For more information, contact Jeanne Severin at 847-772-4291 or by email at greyhound2jean@gmail.com
Aug. 3
CPMF Annual Golf Outing
Cantigny Golf
27W270 Mack Rd., Wheaton
Registration $300 per person
For more information, call 312-499-8899 or visit https://www.cpdmemorial.org/cpmf-golf- outing
Sept. 13
Chicago Police Memorial Foundation 4th Annual Cars & Cops Car Show Collectors Car Garage
2500 West Bradley Place, Chicago
10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
$35 per ticket
For more information, visit https://www. cpdmemorial.org/
6 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JUNE 2020