Page 5 - December 2017

CHICAGO LODGE 7
Official Magazine
President’s Report
FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE CHICAGO LODGE #7
EXECUTIVE BOARD
KEVIN GRAHAM
President
PATRICK J. MURRAY
First Vice President
Martin Preib
Second Vice President
Jay R. Ryan
Third Vice President
Greg Bella
Recording Secretary
Michael P. Garza
Financial Secretary
John Capparelli
Treasurer
Dean C. Angelo, Sr.
Immediate Past President
Sergeants-at-Arms
William Burns James Jakstavich Michael Mette
Trustees
Harold Brown Andrew Cantore Mark Donahue William Dougherty Pat Duckhorn Sergio Escobedo Fernando Flores Joseph Gentile Danny Gorman Ken Hauser Rick King Frank Quinn Carlos Salazar Ron Shogren Mark Tamlo Daniel Trevino Michael Underwood
Field Representatives
Robert Bartlett Rich Aguilar
Updating key issues, including those for retired members
Sisters and Brothers, I want to wish all of you a safe and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I further hope that your families are safe and able to be together so everyone can find joy this holiday season.
There are several key issues facing FOP Lodge 7 at this time, so I will give you a quick summary of events, with more information coming in future issues.
Contract Negotiations
The negotiation process for a new contract is moving slowly. We are negotiating many issues, including improved benefits and pay, as well as new and exciting member rights regarding healthcare. The negotiating committee is working dil-
igently on wording and tactics. We have given some information to unit representatives to share with the members in their units and districts, however we are asking all members to keep the information confidential until after we meet with the City and present our proposals.
Consent Decree
I have been asked by many members if the consent decree arising from the lawsuit Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed is complicating contract negotiations. The simple answer is, yes. The potential consent decree is a legal and politically complicated issue. However, we will work through it within the new few weeks with our attorneys. After that, we can get back on track to negotiate with the City.
CR Matrix
As you probably know, we won the Discipline Matrix Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) and we are cautiously optimistic that we will also win the Body Wearing Camera ULP. I do caution mem- bers not to get too excited yet, because the battle is not over. I am sure that the City will appeal the Discipline Matrix ULP; and the Body Wearing Camera ULP is a tough issue. Nevertheless, we have a strong team and strategy, and we are putting everything into both issues.
Underwood Case
Even though the Illinois Supreme Court has turned down the request to hear the lawsuit for retiree healthcare, I want you to know that we are working on other options for retired mem- bers who need relief from high premiums. We are also looking at legislation that will provide financial help to our retired members. It’s not going to be a lot of money, but every little bit helps. I will address more on this issue in the February issue of Lodge 7 Magazine.
2018 Union Dues
The final topic that I would like to address is annual union dues for retired members. The deadline to pay 2018 Union dues was Nov. 30 and retired members who failed to pay by that date were dropped in early December. The reason for this action is that Chicago Lodge 7 had to pay per capita dues to both the Illinois FOP and the National FOP on Dec. 1. Of the $40 annual retiree dues, $35 is split between the National and State FOP. There were 1,100 members who were dropped for failure to pay 2017 dues. There were an additional 700 members dropped who failed to pay 2018 dues.
Of course, there is a process for members who wish to be reinstated. It includes the affected member writing a “To/From” to the Retiree Committee chaired by Trustee Mark Donahue, explaining why the dues were not paid and a request to be reinstated. The Retiree Committee
KEVIN GRAHAM
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ DECEMBER 2017 5