White Plains Police Accuse City of City of Causing Breakdown In Negotiations, Putting Public At Risk

• The following is a press release from the White Plains Police Benevolent Association

The City of White Plains has repeatedly acted contrary to the interests of the citizens, police and the bargaining process in labor negotiations with the Police Benevolent Association, ultimately leading to a long and arduous impasse that will cost taxpayers money and damage the department, PBA President Rob Riley said today.

“The City has clearly failed in its responsibility to it citizens and employees to come to a fair agreement that would protect the city both fiscally and physically,” said Riley. “We need a strong, well-managed police department to attract and retain the officers that keep our streets safe. If the City is unwilling to work with the people who risk their lives for its citizens every day, how can they expect to run the city?”

The collective bargaining agreement between the City and the PBA ended in June of 2010. Since then, the PBA has worked diligently to come to a reasonable agreement, making several offers going back to August 2011 that would be fair both to patrolmen and taxpayers.

Based on these offers, for months the City repeatedly scheduled bargaining sessions and then abruptly cancelled them. Finally, on March 13 the City and the PBA exchanged new proposals and set a bargaining session on April 25th  to discuss an agreement. Only two days later, the City sent back a letter amending their proposal to a much less reasonable offer. The very next day, the City sent another letter requesting impasse and cancelling the April 25th bargaining session.

The matter will now go to mediation in front of a mediator from the New York State Public Employees Relations Board, which will cost the city more money than a voluntary agreement. In addition, the impasse proceedings will likely be poor for department morale and recruitment, PBA officials said.

“We just want to do our jobs and keep our streets safe. We hope that we can get this issue resolved and get back to focusing on work,” Riley said.

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