Brothers & Sisters,
As much as I know that this isn't
going to be a popular subject, it's one we have to talk about. The
membership at the October, 2008 General Membership Meeting unanimously
approved to send a ballot measure out to the members calling for a dues
increase. The amount requested in the ballot measure is $10.00 per month.
This would bring our dues structure to $36 per month or $18 per two week pay
period (24 pay periods). This increase is only for active members.
Civilian members would see a $4.00 per month increase and there is NO
increase for retirees.
Why more, why now?
Now I know that the economy is bad, I know that no one wants to pay more
money... but we have to face facts. We have not asked for a dues increase in
six (6) years. During that six years we have seen our costs rise
tremendously. We've increased our services, and increased our facilities for
the member's use. Our costs have risen in insurance, utilities, supplies,
accounting, equipment, training, increased dues to the State and National
Lodges, and most importantly legal. Our legal costs have risen an average of
$20 per hour for legal services in the last six years. We continue to
represent officers in lawsuits, unfair employment actions, and officer
involved shootings. We have to be able to continue our legal plan without
any cuts. In fact we would like to do some work on the legal plan and at
some point hire a staff attorney to fix our costs, solidify our
representation, and increase our ability to stand and fight for our members.
Collective Bargaining Costs
We also have to look the future. Not only will costs continue to rise but we
are at a juncture in this Lodge and State.
I believe as others do in the FOP
that things are about to change. Regardless of whether you are personally
happy about the outcome of the national elections on November 4th, you have
to look at one thing. The thing we have been working for in this State for
more than 30 years is about to arrive. With the incoming slate of
politicians in Washington we are almost assured that the
National Collective
Bargaining Bill will pass in 2009. This is the bill that would enact federal
law guaranteeing collective bargaining rights for public safety employees
(Police, Deputies, Firefighters, & EMTs). This means that employers would
have to bargain with your collective representative (FOP) over working
conditions, wages, and benefits and sign a contract guaranteeing those
things negotiated or agreed upon at the bargaining table. Along with the
benefits it will also require a tremendous amount of education, knowledge,
and training on our part and on the part of your chapter representatives.
The training that is particularly important for us will cost money. We are
going to bring the training here to Lodge #50 so we can train more of our
members regionally with much less cost, but we will still have to pay out of
Lodge funds.
Fundraising
We also have to understand that the fundraising we always could count on to
supplement our income has dried up. The $30,000 to $40,000 we received six
years ago has dried up to nothing. We no longer even have a phone
solicitation firm calling for us because the profit margin is so poor. This
year alone the State FOP has had to decrease it's budget by more than
$100,000 in one year because of cuts in phone solicitation. To make up the
difference the State Trustees voted to assess the membership $10.00 each.
This will be done in two increments $5.00 in the fall and $5.00 in the
spring. The Lodge #50 board voted to absorb the cost of the first $5.00 but
we can't absorb the second without a dues increase. The State Lodge will
then likely ask for a per capita (dues) increase at the next State
Conference in 2010. The State currently only gets $11.00 per member for per
capita and the life insurance costs $11.50 per member. Families in this
Lodge have benefited from the life insurance when their officer/member dies
unexpectedly. For some they realized it was the only insurance they had.
We currently pay the lowest amount of dues for any Lodge in the area. Our
State Lodge receives the lowest per capita of any state we've spoken to.
Put it in Perspective
The $10 increase per month the Lodge is asking for is only $5 additional per
two week paycheck. That's less than a couple of coffees or a lunch at
Burger King. Make sure you put it in perspective and think of the need and
the good it will do for our members.
Please think about the future when deciding how you vote
on this issue. This is a priority for our Lodge to continue and to thrive
given the needs and challenges for our future. The Executive Board and
the Board of Trustees recommends that you VOTE YES for the needed dues
increase. If approved your Board promises to use this
money wisely and to increase services for you, the member. We will
continue to be expeditious in the use of your money and work to make it help
improve your jobs as police officers to the best of our abilities.
Fraternally,
Rick Inglima, President
FOP Lodge #50
FAQ's:
How much do other Lodges in our area pay for dues?
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Kansas City FOP Lodge #99 - Currently members pay $35
per month. Lodge #99 expresses the need for a dues increase.
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Independence Lodge #1 members pay $53.50 per month.
Their dues structure is set so that it continues to increase every time
the pay for a three year patrolman rises.
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Lodge #50 is the lowest in the area at $26 per month.
If the increase passes we will be almost even with #99 until their next
increase in the near future.
What
are some of the increases in cost?
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As of October of 2008 we are already $15,000
higher in total legal expenses as opposed to all 2007.
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The increase of the National Per Capita payment and
administrative fee will increase our costs approximately $3,000 per
year.
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The assessment currently in place by the State Lodge
will cost approximately $5,000. If the members agree to a
permanent increase at the next state conference this will make that $5,000
increase permanent.
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With the increase in value of our buildings, property,
and liability our insurance costs can rise as much as $1,000 per
year.
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Both buildings need repairs to their roofs and one
looks like it will need a completely new roof. The estimated cost of
the new roof for the office and repairs to the north building (10-81 Club)
is $20,000 +.
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As we increase duties and hours needed from our staff
our personnel costs rise approximately 5% yearly or approximately $750 to
$1,000 per year. If we increase to one full time staff with pay and
benefits we anticipate a possible $15,000 increase yearly.
How much are the Exec Board members like President,
Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, etc... going to make from this dues
increase they are asking for?
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NOTHING! - Your executive board members donate
their time.
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None of our Board Members receive a salary.
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It costs most of them to work for you for free.
If they weren't working for the members they could be dedicating their
time elsewhere such as working O.T., Off Duty, or more importantly
spending time with family.
What do other Unions like the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF)
charge their members?
-
The IAFF does a lot of things very well. We work
with them on regular occasion. We learn from them and believe they
learn from us.
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Their members pay
$100 per month in dues and I have
never heard them complain. This dues structure allows them to have a
full time staff to handle a lot of their needs. We maintain one part
time employee.
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If our members want similar services and features they
have to expect to pay a reasonable fee in dues.
What happens if the dues increase doesn't pass? Will Lodge #50 still
be available?
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The Lodge will still exist. Eventually there may
have to be a reduction in services such as legal, etc... (i.e. an
attorney only available for disciplinary cases of 3 days or more, instead
of any time there is an issue of discipline).
-
I don't want to think about the possibility of the
buildings falling into disrepair without funds? The buildings are
our biggest investment and need to be maintained.
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I also don't want to think about the possibility of
turning into only a social group rather than advocating for our members
legally, politically, and in the labor field.
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Right now we are holding on and doing all the things
necessary to advocate for our members and looking to even increase
services. However, the dues increase is vital to our plans and our
future.
Why
not phase the dues increase in over several years instead of all at once?
-
Although we understand it may be easier for some to
accept the increase over time this is a very big problem administratively
for the Lodge.
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Each time there is an increase we have to go through
the different processes of each local government that offers payroll
deduction. Some require each member to sign a new sheet for payroll
deduction before changing the amount.
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There are also more than 150 members still paying
quarterly without payroll deduction and this causes new billing issues to
keep them all current and paying the current and correct amount.
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You can see that this makes continual dues changes not
feasible for us to accomplish.
How much is the dues increase for civilian and retired members?
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We have attempted to minimize the impact on civilians.
The ballot measure calls for a $4.00 per month increase for civilians.
Civilians receive legal coverage but not the insurance and we don't pay
per capita to State and National for them. We reduced the increase
to cover only what we felt was needed to maintain their legal coverage.
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There is NO INCREASE FOR RETIREES.
Retirees don't receive legal coverage and we know most of them are on a
fixed income trying to make ends meet. They made it through a career
in this business and unless we are required to in the distant future we
don't want to increase their dues.
Thirty-six dollars a month is too much, why don't I just drop my
membership?
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How much can you afford if you get sued?
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How much can you afford if you are involved in a
critical incident?
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The average amount to represent an officer in a
shooting is approximately $3,500 - $4,000. That includes
getting the attorney out of bed and getting them to the scene, walking you
through the process and protecting your interests, meeting with you and
representing you during your interview with the investigators, getting you
prepared, and seeing you through the Grand Jury. This cost doesn't
even come close to the cost if you are sued civilly and need your own
attorney.
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You'd call a doctor without malpractice insurance
CRAZY!!! How is that different from a police officer who doesn't
maintain legal protection?
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How much is $20,000 - $30,000 of insurance worth if it
is something to help your family if you meet an accidental death on or off
the job?
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How much is it worth to know that over 325,000 other
members are standing behind you in time of need?
When
would the dues increase take effect?
How
do I vote?
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Each member will have a ballot mailed to their address
on file at the Lodge.
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Mark your answer, stamp the ballot, and return it in
the specified time.
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The ballots will be sent to the Lodge Attorney who will
tabulate the results.
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It is imperative that you make sure you have updated
your information with the Lodge to ensure you receive a ballot.
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