Posts tagged police
Faster Labor Contracts Act would silence workers’ voices and empower bureaucrats
May 28, 2026 // While forced arbitration for union contracts would be new in the private sector, there is a corollary in the public sector called “interest arbitration” that some states most frequently apply to police and firefighter labor disputes. It’s not entirely analogous because a government that imposes forced arbitration is also the employer and thus part of the contract negotiations. Moreover, governments aren’t subject to the same bottom line as private sector companies because, unlike businesses, states generally can’t go bankrupt. Nevertheless, interest arbitration contracts have burdened state and local governments, arguably contributing to rising property tax rates in New Jersey, unfunded pensions in Chicago, and even municipal bankruptcy in Detroit.
Op-ed: Kathy Hochul’s Get-Past-November Budget
May 28, 2026 // Now for the category of making the state less affordable: Democrats reversed some of the state’s 2012 pension reforms. Teachers hired since those reforms will now be able to retire at age 58, instead of 63. The budget also slashes employee contributions to their pensions, and allows police and firefighters to count more overtime pay toward their pension calculations. These pension sweeteners are expected to cost the state and local governments $557 million a year. That will invariably mean higher taxes down the road. Democrats are helping Mr. Mamdani pay for them by allowing the city to re-amortize its pension liabilities, which will save $2.3 billion between this and next year while increasing costs in the long run by $5 billion.
New group of Alexandria City workers vote to unionize
March 25, 2026 // As new negotiations gear up in Alexandria, public workers and unions around the state are waiting to see what Spanberger does with the public-sector collective bargaining bill that the General Assembly passed. The bill would remove the collective bargaining ban on local government, school board, and state employees. Currently, local government and school board employees only have the right to collective bargaining if their employers pass resolutions allowing them to do so. The bill would also extend collective bargaining rights to home care providers and service workers at public universities. The bill excludes university full-time professors, adjuncts, and librarians. These workers are waiting to see if Spanberger adds them back to the bill or makes other changes.
Harris County becomes first in Texas to allow employees to organize with new ‘consultation policy’
March 19, 2026 // Harris County commissioners voted 3-1 Thursday to let many county workers choose a labor organization to advocate for workplace policy changes, elevate grievances and make recommendations to Commissioners Court. The "employee consultation policy" does not permit employees to engage in collective bargaining, which state law blocks most government employees in Texas from doing. Government employees in Texas cannot strike.
Arbitrator rejects police union’s retaliation claims against Whitehall chief
March 19, 2026 // An independent arbitrator has rejected claims by the police union that Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen retaliated against officers, issuing a ruling this week regarding the discipline of former officer Brooke Cano. Arbitrator Jonathan Klein ruled there was no evidence to support allegations by Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 9 that the chief targeted officers involved in union activities or those who failed to meet alleged ticket quotas. The decision follows a three-day hearing that reviewed union claims dating back to 2016.
Ex-State Police Union President, Mass Lobbyist Sent To Prison In Corruption Case: Feds
February 19, 2026 // Dana A. Pullman, 64, of Worcester, was sentenced in a Boston federal court to two years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release on Wednesday, Feb. 18, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. US District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns also ordered him to pay $43,915 in restitution. Anne M. Lynch, 75, of Hull, received 15 months in prison and one year of supervised release. She was ordered to pay $41,795 in restitution, federal prosecutors said.
Maine police union files complaint against Mills Administration
December 5, 2025 // The filing from the Fraternal Order of Police comes after the largest union for state employees made similar claims in a labor complaint last month.
‘Scabby the Rat’ mascot slashed outside reopening of iconic NYC eatery Babbo — sparking cops’ raid
November 3, 2025 // Then Haack said he turned to his rat and saw where the hissing sound was coming from: a fresh, 8-inch gaping hole on its right thigh. “The man who approached me is still outside and some others and they kind of chuckle, acknowledging what just happened,” Haack said. “I’m sure they at least found it funny.” Haack called 911. Within five minutes, up to 10 NYPD officer arrived at the restaurant’s Waverly Place address in squad cars with their lights and sirens blaring.
Corrections officers union rips into NYS report on wildcat strike at prisons
August 11, 2025 // The union says that includes serious issues like forced overtime and limited PTO options for corrections officers, a significant increase in internal prison violence, and other conditions which the union says caused the illegal job action. They say it stems a frustration boiling over point for their members including claims that no one in Albany was really listening to their concerns even when they came from DOCCS Commissioner who was himself grilled by some lawmakers in hearings.
SeeThroughNY Updated With 1,000+ Latest Union Contracts
May 18, 2025 // New York’s most comprehensive online database of state and local government union contracts has been updated with the latest collective bargaining agreements for local teachers, police, firefighters, libraries, and public authorities. Among the 1,006 new local government and school district public employee union and employment contracts on SeeThroughNY.net, the Empire Center’s transparency website, are 126 public school teacher association contracts, 124 Superintendent contracts, 95 police contracts, and 18 firefighter contracts.