Contract expired at end of '07
Oct 06, 2008 - 02:49 PM
By Jeff Mitchell
DURHAM -- The gloves are off and the caps are on after a fruitless weekend of contract negotiations between Durham cops and the police services board.
Monday morning officers began donning caps emblazoned with the logo 10-33 -- a communications message meaning an officer needs assistance -- and will be handing out information pamphlets as they protest what they see as slow progress on a new contract.
Police officers are not legally allowed to strike. The 800 uniform officers and 300 civilians represented by the Durham Regional Police Association (DRPA) have been without a contract since the end of 2007.
Both sides in the labour dispute said Monday that despite an encouraging start to two days of talks over the weekend, there remains an impasse that has kept a deal from being done. Management said it's offered a deal that would see salaries increase more than nine per cent over the next three years; a counter proposal has been tendered by the association.
DRPA President Doug Cavanaugh said that while the issues at play are not insurmountable, two irritants -- the slow pace of contract talks and ongoing concerns over frontline staffing levels -- are creating tensions that led cops to unanimously approve job action at a meeting in Oshawa last Wednesday night.
"It's disappointing," Mr. Cavanaugh said Monday morning. "On Saturday we made a lot of progress (in talks with the police services board).
"But come Sunday afternoon, things went a little sideways."
Mr. Cavanaugh has accused the police services board of "dragging their feet" on a new deal with the association. He said officers are also concerned that budget concerns will slow down hiring, which he said is necessary to put enough cops on the beat to meet rising demand in busy Durham Region.
"We are constantly having the minimum (number of officers) on the road," Mr. Cavanaugh said.
"We think staffing levels need to be addressed," Mr. Cavanaugh said.
Representatives of the police services board, which represents Durham Region in negotiations with the association, contend management is bargaining in good faith.
"We worked diligently to ensure a fair agreement for all members of the Durham Regional Police Association," bargaining committee chairman Roger Anderson said after the weekend's talks.
He said the board had tabled an offer that would see DRPA members receive an increase in excess of 9.3 per cent over the next three years.
"We remain prepared to work with the DRPA towards an agreement that is fair for both its members and the citizens of the Region of Durham," Mr. Anderson said in a prepared statement.
More talks are scheduled to begin Oct. 17.
Recommend :
Latest News
Pickering losing 21 jobsPICKERING -- A Pickering-based wireless technology firm is cutting about 21 jobs to save $1 million a year due to tough economic conditions. Steve Willey, AirIQ Inc., Chief ...
Supportive friends arrested in bail court as accomplicesOSHAWA -- Five men who came to court to support friends busted in a debit card skimming operation wound up behind bars themselves when cops identified them as accomplices in ...
Regions wants to build to stimulate economyDURHAM -- Durham is planning on putting a rush on infrastructure projects in order to stimulate the local economy. As part of his economic update, Finance Commissioner Jim ...
General Motors is leaning on CAWGeneral Motors of Canada Ltd. is aggressively seeking help from the Canadian Auto Workers to reduce costs in support of efforts for a huge government aid package, the union's ...
Seven Durham-connected homicides in 2008DURHAM -- The deaths of an Oshawa woman and her young son at the hands of a man who was later shot dead by police marked the sixth and seventh homicides involving a Durham ...
Youngest child of Leslie Kelly diesOSHAWA -- The three-year-old boy injured in a shocking attack on his family last Saturday in south Oshawa has passed away.
Durham ...
United Way half-way to targetDURHAM -- With the end of the campaign looming, the United Way is half-way to its goal of $1.75 million. Fundraising campaign chairman John G. Smith said $889,000 had been ...
Growth plan debate heats upDURHAM -- It will have to be a quick, fierce debate on how Durham should grow as the June deadline for Durham to complete its plan draws closer. The Region is working on ...
Tense stand-off results in arrestOSHAWA -- Police officers responding to a report of a drunk driver found themselves in a tense stand-off with a man who held a knife to his own throat Monday afternoon. Police...
Ajax makes changes to stop sign requirementsAJAX -- With a little tweaking, the method used to decide if stop signs should be installed has been updated. While councillors will have the final say, the all-way stop ...