Page 16 - May 2017 Newsletter

Financial Secretary’s Report
Lining up Unit Reps
As Financial Secretary of FOP Lodge 7, one of my responsibilities is the election of your Unit Representatives; when the Unit Reps are in place, they will be in charge of appointing the Watch Reps. I consider these the most valuable positions for the FOP in the units. The Unit Reps are your first level of protection and information, and they are supplied with information and materials to
assist them in helping the members. The Unit Reps do not take their responsibilities lightly; they have chosen to help their fellow officers by sacrificing their free time to assist and to attend meetings. The most important aspect of this position is knowing the contract and all its provisions. By the time this article is out, you should have your Unit Rep in place or be waiting for an election to occur.
One of my other roles in the union is Grievance Com- mittee Chair; I hold monthly meetings along with the committee to review the merits of submitted grievanc- es. A grievance committee meeting was held on May 12, and the decisions and committee recommendations were then reported to the board of directors. In my first days, I have noticed that, unfortunately, some of the grievances are not filed in a timely matter. I am refer- ring to situations when Officers are served a notice of discipline recommending various days of suspension on less serious infractions. The City might ask for a five- day suspension, which does not fit the impropriety. You sign the “Request for Review of Discipline” and then file a grievance on the grievance form. Officers have been signing this form and believing that this is the only step. However, it is a two-step process: Sign the form and drop the grievance. Under the form for Reprimands to 10-Day Suspensions, you check the box that states “elect to file a grievance seeking Binding Summary Opinion. I will submit the appropriate grievance report within the time parameters delineated in my collective bargaining agreement” and then fill out a grievance form. If you have any doubts on procedures, call us here down at the FOP.
On to a vital subject: contract negotiations. Our con- tract with the City expires on June 30, and we are ask- ing officers to submit suggestions to the Lodge. You can send them via police mail or email. Remember, mine is one of the first; give us a good wage increase so we are able to support ourselves and our families. Wages are al- ways important, but protection of our rights is key; there is always a push to reduce our working rights.
On another unfortunate note, I have received the de-
cision of the arbitrator on the acting desk sergeant griev- ance, and it was denied in its entirety. As the arbitrator decided: “To summarize, the Union has established that following the reorganization the grievant continued to perform most of the functions he had previously, such as handling inventory, reviewing arrest reports, conducting shift audits, monitoring arrestee movements and arrang- ing for transports. However, based on binding authority between the parties, the plain language of Section 26.3 requires that the Officer assume substantially all of a Sergeant’s duties to qualify for out-of-grade pay, with the emphasis on the assumption of supervisory responsibili- ty.” “The grievant simply did perform substantially all the duties and assume substantially all the responsibilities of a Sergeant, primarily because he did not possess anything approaching the full supervisory authority and responsi- bility vested in Sergeants. The grievance will be denied.”
A full copy of the arbitration will be available at the Lodge. I believe this reflects the current disrespect for what we do as Officers. The Chicago Police were respect- ed for years as the best department in the nation. The vocal few now are controlling the perception of the Po- lice in a negative way. Policing has not changed over the years; it is simply patrolling, prevention and apprehen- sion. With that, a good foot officer has the ear, and trust, of the neighborhood.
Next, I have to mention that I’ll still be the Awards Committee Chair. If you or another officer is involved in an extraordinary event, go to the FOP website for the submission form. Fill it out and send it down, and the Awards Committee will review it.
Finally, I have been down here for a few weeks and have been enjoying helping out my fellow officers, go- ing on call-outs and simply answering questions from the phone. There is nothing too minor to ask or answer. Thank you to my 4th District Officers for your input and support in being your Unit Rep, then your trustee. You all make me proud of you every day you put on your uniform and head onto the street. I am honored to be elected into this office as Financial Secretary, and it is an honor that I will work hard to earn every day.
Side notes: Down on the South East Side, the East Side Pride organization is holding an event honoring Police and Fire. The event will be held at the St. Simeon Serbi- an Church Pavilion at 3737 E. 114th St. on June 17 from noon to 11 p.m. There will be food, games, raffles, music and free activities for children. Proceeds will benefit the 100 Club of Chicago. It is great to see the local commu- nity supporting first responders. d
MICHAEL GARZA
16 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MAY 2017