Page 6 - August 2017

GRAHAM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
I believe through hard work, careful negotiations and communication of the issues to the City and the Depart- ment, we will achieve a good contract. Should the City/ Department not want to negotiate in good faith, there is a remedy for that problem as well. It is called arbitration. We will always prepare for that possibility but negotiate in good faith with the City to get a fair and equitable contract for our members.
Many groups have said that the problems with the Chicago Police Department result from the FOP’s collec- tive bargaining agreement with the City. This is simply not true.
I have said for many years that if the public wants to be treated fairly, you must treat Police Officers fairly. With many officers being denied their days off “RDO,” the Department is not helping them to be in the right frame of mind to deal with the public when they go out on their tours.
Three ideas come to mind to help in this arena:
1. Do not cancel officers’ day off and keep them away
from their families.
2. Treat Police Officers as you would treat your own
family members, with respect and dignity.
3. Pay them enough money so they can afford to live in the City and send their children to decent
schools.
We could go on about the things the City could do. It is
important to say these things in this report as we enter negotiations.
This is nothing unreasonable. It’s simply treating peo- ple fairly. d
6 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ AUGUST 2017