2008 MPPOA Elections - Candidate Information

MPPOA Elections begin April 16 and end noon on April 20. Here is information on the candidates. You will be asked to vote for four candidates, the top three candidates will get a three-year term; the fourth candidate will receive a one-year term. You will be asked to vote on the by-law as well. If you have ballot issues or need an absentee, contact PO Jean Papalia.

Brian Austin
Detective
Currently assigned to the Criminal Intake Unit (CIU)

I am interested in running for the board for several reasons. I have been active in some union issues in the last couple of years, and feel the union is only as strong as the willingness of the membership to be active participants in the process. I would like to help improve the sense of unity within our membership. Our department is getting younger and younger, and I think the veteran members need to step up and help impart a strong union culture within our organization. A strong MPPOA is very important in maintaining fairness and balance in the employee/employer relationship.

Jason Sweeney
Police Officer
South Days Patrol
Date of Hire September 1997.

I believe I share the departments overall sentiment, with regards to our current union, when I say we need be become stronger. Obviously, much can be achieved through cooperation and diplomacy. However, the very nature of the union – management relationship is adversarial. The two vastly different groups have even larger differences in goals. When management looks to negotiate a contract, their vision is focused first and foremost on the budget and numbers. They have costs, staffing, and budgets. As with any business owner, the heads of the department are obligated to get the most for their dollar. The union on the other hand is concerned with the welfare of its membership, getting the most for the rank-and-file of this department. Frankly, I think we can do better.

I want to be the voice that shakes up the “status quo”. I want to stop the theory of “past practices” determining if things are fair or not.

Some ideas I have for future direction of the union include:

• Re-evaluate the concept and benefits of the current practice of MOU’s. Some of the MOU’s signed have in fact eroded the strength of the membership. For example, the MOU to allow day-off switches for Mifflin St Block party, Rhythm and Booms, and Halloween. Even if we loose arbitration on this subject, we could still include this in the contract negations. This would allow not only management to benefit but also a benefit for MPPOA membership.

• Our union, at a local and state level, MUST become more political. Our lack of political involvement has cost us dearly. While there are many factors contributing to the following discrepancy, in the Employee’s Trust Fund, Calculating Your Retirement Benefits form #ET-4107, page 6, it indicates that while police will receive 65% of their average earnings upon retirement, all other city employees will receive 70%, and firefighters will get 80% (they however are not covered by Social Security). I promise to look into this further and using our political action committee to address this at a higher level.

• Staffing, days off, vacation, and comp use, are all issues that continue to plague the hard workingmen and women in patrol. I will be a voice for allowing better use of such benefits.

Lastly, I will make a promise to the membership that if I am elected in as a union officer I will listen to all of your concerns and dismiss none. If you have a question or concern I will not give the party line of “it has happened to all of us”. I will develop a form that all concerns will be documented and addressed at meetings with a response to the individual or everyone, depending on circumstances.

Dave McClurg
Sergeant
South CPT

Steve Beavers
Sergeant
North Second

(Steve did not submit info) He is currently on the MPPOA Board and is Chair of Social events like the picnic and Copper Ball.

Amy Schwartz
Sergeant
CIS Days

(Amy is away at training and did not submit) Amy is currently on the MPPOA Board and handles all the sportswear sales that raise money for charitable contributions.

The following by law change will also be on the ballot—ask questions about it and make an informed vote.

Do you approve of a change to the MPPOA bylaws that will allow the biweekly maximum dues rate to change from the starting hourly rate of a police officer to the hourly rate of a police officer at the 42-month step The current dues are $20 bi weekly, the new maximum would currently be $24.26 biweekly. The board does not intend to raise dues to this level at this time but needs room to raise dues as the WPPA raises dues over the next ten years.

      Yes________  No_____________