Page 20 - FOP March 2017 Newsletter

Body-worn cameras subject of new ULP charge
On February 14, President Angelo personally hand-delivered timely notice to the City, formally requesting the commencement
of bargaining for a successor collective bargaining agreement. As negotiations
over a successor agreement are set to
begin, the Department continues to engage in what can only be categorized
as a pattern of misconduct in an effort to un-
dermine the upcoming process. As I wrote in last month’s issue, late last year the Department unilaterally imple- mented the Complaint Register Matrix Guidelines, which set forth new parameters for discipline. The State Labor Board currently is investigating the Lodge’s Unfair Labor Practice Charge (and considering the Lodge’s request for injunctive relief). But the Department’s actions continue to escalate.
In 2015, the Lodge first learned that the Department wanted to utilize Body Worn Cameras (BWC) in a cer- tain area of the City. The Lodge formally objected and demanded that the Department bargain over the Pilot Program. It is well settled that the method and manner in which the images recorded by the body cameras are
maintained and utilized by the Department are manda- tory subjects of bargaining. Accordingly, the Lodge informed the Department that it expected the De- partment to adhere to its obligation to bargain with the Lodge. Hence, the parties executed a Let-
PAT
PAT
FIORETTO
FIORETTO
FOP
Lab Rep t
ter of Understanding (LOU).
The LOU contains specific restrictions,
including:
• The Department will establish a District-level Commit-
tee consisting of appropriate supervisors and Officers, using the BWC to provide input and advice concerning the BWC Pilot Program.
• The Department will provide notice and will meet and engage in discussions with the Lodge prior to any ex- pansion of the use of BWCs beyond the parameters set forth in the BWC Pilot Program–Phase 1.
• The Department will continue to bargain with the Lodge over any impact or effect of the BWC Pilot Pro- gram as it relates to a Police Officer’s safety and/or dis- cipline.
On December 28, 2016, the Department announced it would expand the Program set forth in the LOU. When the Lodge learned of the Department’s unilateral actions
20 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MARCH 2017