In the early '70s when I started in Arizona law enforcement, there were no police unions. Talk of unions by officers was most often met with swift retribution by police chiefs.
Many law enforcement agencies were ruled by a "good old boy system." Promotions and transfers were often based on political loyalties and who was the best behind-kisser - not on merit.
Organized labor changed much of that and gave officers a voice and a lawyer to fight poor treatment by management.
Arizona's law enforcement labor movement began to take off in the '80s. It was a slow start fraught with obstacles set up by those who had no interest in change and acknowledging employees for what they could do to make a community safer.
In the beginning the unions were mostly about fair treatment of their local members, but that changed.
At the turn of the 21st Century, law enforcement public safety labor groups were growing in respectability, public popularity and political power. Even politicians like former State House Speaker and congressional candidate Kirk Adams and State Senate President Russell Pearce created an almost unheard of alliance between conservative Republicans and organized labor. In 2010, when Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law Senate Bill 1070, she was surrounded by members of the Arizona Police Association, the state's largest law enforcement union.
In the East Valley, Tempe city councilman, now mayor, Hugh Hallman, also a Republican, championed Tempe's meet and confer ordinance in 1999 that brought police and fire groups to the bargaining table. Tempe helped to open the door for public safety labor groups at the city level. Hallman was later supported by those unions in his successful mayoral bids in 2004 and 2008.
Public safety labor organizations had became the political darlings for many elected officials.
In return for labor's political support, some elected officials reciprocated by meeting requests for increased benefits, even when the request was financially unsound. Some changes enacted by elected officials attacked the fiscal soundness of a statewide retirement system for public safety officers that had been in existence in Arizona since 1968. Unions were later blamed by politicians for the retirement system's failures and need for drastic restructuring.
And the questions over union benefits given by elected officials aren't over.
According to a Goldwater investigation that was reported in the Sept. 23 Tribune ("E.V. cities use taxpayer dollars for union work"), public safety and city employee unions, including several in the East Valley, are the target of questions being asked due to the thousands of hours of city work time given to workers by elected officials to conduct union business.
The Tribune story pointed out that Tempe has given out benefits that surpass what other East Valley cities provide. Tempe, the East Valley's smallest city and with the highest ratio of employees to residents, allows unions around 13,000 hours of work time. Tempe has a history of raising taxes and fees in order to meet its bills, including extra generous benefits to elected officials and upper echelon employees.
Chandler comes in second at approximately 5,000 hours, and Mesa is projected to provide 3,000 hours for unions when its meet and confer agreements are finalized.
The Goldwater Institute is reportedly planning a lawsuit over what it feels are violations by cities of the gift clause of the Arizona Constitution.
Will unions once again be made the bad guys in the public's eyes and not the elected officials who bought the unions' political support with our tax dollars?
When the Goldwater Institute sues, it usually wins.
East Valley cities don't need a battle with labor fighting them on one side and the Goldwater Institute on the other.
Before it hits the fan, East Valley political and union leaders need to meet with the Goldwater Institute and seek a positive solution for all parties involved, especially us taxpayers, before any more of our finite supply of tax dollars are wasted.
Elected officials made this mess, now they need to clean it up.
• Retired Mesa master police officer Bill Richardson lives in the East Valley and can be reached at bill.richardson@cox.net
cnemo42 posted at 6:26 am on Fri, Sep 30, 2011.
What is a master police officer? Unions are the only thing left to save us from Facism you moron.
billrichardson posted at 6:38 am on Fri, Sep 30, 2011.
Master Police Officer was a rank for officers/detectives promoted to assignments in accident reconstruction, arson, homicide and sex crimes at the Mesa PD. The pay range went from starting sergeant to 5% below top lieutenant. The program was disbanded and only one MPO is left in the department.
commonsenseaintcommon posted at 8:11 am on Fri, Sep 30, 2011.
Golly gee willikers Billy, why did the unions come into existence in the first place? Oh yeah, you said it in your not very well thought out editorial. The police department was run as a good old boys club and you had to suck up to get up. I have lived in the east valley for 30 years and remember when anyone with the city of Mesa in any way who had a title of supervisor or above, had to be a in good standing with the Mormon church. There were no women, minorities or Christians above the level of flunky. The unions came about because of abuses like the good old boy system you referred to. So take control of the unions and beat the members into submission and go back to the good old boys club. Then when you have rampant incompetency and multiple discrimination lawsuits and no morale whatsoever you can set back gloat. By the way, how much money are you getting each month in city pension that is from an underfunded account? Are you standing up tall and proud and cutting the city a check to help out with the shortfall? I didn't think so.
Adam54 posted at 8:59 am on Fri, Sep 30, 2011.
Hey Commonsense your screen name fits you.... Because you don't have any you MORON!!!!!
rouse2 posted at 9:05 am on Fri, Sep 30, 2011.
all it seems to have accomplished really, is once it was almost imposable to fire a few bad cops, now it's imposable to fire ANY bad cops. and politics have simply changed the direction of the behind-kissing from the mayor to the union boss. no change for the average man on the street except the departments now cost allot more to run for less actual service and protection.
chatmandu002 posted at 12:18 pm on Fri, Sep 30, 2011.
When wages, benefits, government rules/regulations and taxes get to high business can move or close. But when these same conditions apply to a city, county, state or the country they can't move or close down. The only option is to soak the taxpayer or cut some wages, benefit, rules/regulation, services.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 8:11 am on Sat, Oct 1, 2011.
Like most things in Life, unions were started to collectively help the hapless worker. But like any "good" thing, human avarice came into play. The unions in the 1900-1920's became hotbeds of Socialism and downright Communism. Then Racism (no Italians allowed to become Firemen/Policemen in Boston, Philly and New York City is recalled) raised it's ugly head. Then it was Sexism until World War II negated that restriction. Then back to Racism in the post-World War II era but the Civil Rights Act of 1964 put an end to that. The the "Women's Movement" of the 1960-l970's took care of the Sexism.
Now we come to the "Golden Age" of the Unions (the AF of L, the CIO, the Teamsters, the Dockworkers and the Firefighters, Policemen and Teachers Unions) from 1970-2005. There was time and a half, double time, triple time, 5-6-7 weeks vacation, 14 days sick pay, 10-12 paid holidays. Union workers were sending their kids to Ivy League colleges, new cars every 2-3 years, new everything. You couldn't find a parking space in the Malls. Forget even trying to park and shop at Costco, Sam's Club or Gemco on the week-ends or for Holiday shopping. Long lines at the cashier at Sears and JC Penny's were the norm not the exception. The "Gilded Age of America" never to be seen again like the dinosaur....extinct. Now you can roll a bowling ball down the aisle at Wal-Marts all over American and not hit a shopper.
Did the Unions and their so-called "Cadillac Healthcare Benefits" and "Caviar Pension Plans" cause all of this....the answer is yes but certainly not 100%.
"Americans earned less in August 2011, the 1st decline in 2 years. Employers added no new jobs and actually cut hourly earnings fro the 1st time in more than 3 years".
Veteran posted at 7:20 pm on Sat, Oct 1, 2011.
Bill, lets hear a commentary on Gilbert PD losing 350 lbs. of weed, and their lame azz excuse that it was old moldy shizzza. These monkeys are as bad as Holder and the Fast & Furious crew.
billrichardson posted at 5:59 am on Sun, Oct 2, 2011.
Veteran,
Get me the report/info and I'll take a look at it. My email address is below my column.
ChuckUF posted at 10:15 am on Wed, Oct 19, 2011.
I don't get the sense that Bill opposes Unions as much as he does the political involvment with them that has went too far. Having been a charter member of a police union for over 10 years I have also noted the changes in the directions that the larger unons have been going. Keep in mind that some of these unions have had over 8000 members in this state alone. To a politician this translates into member x families, x friends that all vote. The unions have used their collective powers quite successfully, but over time may have become overbearing and to some extent I have personally seen them used by their top officials for personal agendas and gain. I would urge all of these unions to take a long hard look at the direction they are goiing and their allegiance and duty to the public.
Cas Lee posted at 7:58 pm on Sun, Oct 28, 2012.
Hello, my fellow American voters!
I watched the Oct. 3rd, 11th, 16th, and 22nd debates.
1st Romney-Obama debate covered 7 topics: jobs; budget deficit/debt; social security/entitlements; federal gov’t economic regulation and role; healthcare; partisan gridlock.
2nd Romney-Obama debate covered 11 topics: college graduate jobs; gas prices; taxes; equal pay; Bush policies; Obama’s record; illegal immigrants; Libya; assault weapons; jobs; candidate misperceptions.
3rd Romney-Obama debate covered 10 topics: Libya; Syria; Egypt; U.S. world role; military spending; Israel; Iran; Afghanistan; China; U.S. national security threats.
Ryan-Biden debate covered 10 topics: Libya; Iran; economy; medicare/social security/entitlements; tax reform/spending/budget cuts; military policy; Afghanistan; Syria; abortion; negative campaign tactics.
Romney and Ryan won all 4 debates, although Obama improved some in the 2nd debate and Romney slightly took the win both in the 2nd and 3rd debates.
In the 3rd debate (unlike in prior debates), Obama reflected his weakness and disrespect by interrupting Romney a lot and using too many “one-line quips” to try to denigrate Romney.
Ryan won despite Biden’s consistently rude behavior during the debate (often interrupted Ryan, laughed when Ryan talked, pointed his finger). Biden’s tactics to evade issues/truth disrespected Americans interested in facts, figures, forecasts, and solutions for real people with real problems.
Romney and Ryan won with substance, directness, integrity, respect, clarity, facts, commitment, inspiration, credibility, and leadership.
As an INDEPENDENT female feminist (egalitarian) voter, I support the Romney/Ryan ticket.
Romney and Ryan, with their no-nonsense and methodic approach to solving America’s problems, are the best persons in terms of qualifications and character to lead our country and make life better for all Americans.
I am inspired by Romney/Ryan, and I hope that you are too!
Best regards,
Cas Lee