The Chiefs' "Comin to work bonus"

[rodwilson]

Absolutely stunning. These guys are robbing the city blind while it falls futher into ruin.

For those out of the area, there is a BIG story in the OD about Labella, and the 2 Deputy Chiefs Chiefs receiving and additional $7500-$8500 per year for SHOWING UP. And they get it whether they show up or not! Add this to their 11% raises and they each got almost an extra $18k a year.

I don't know Bailey or Williams but for me a whole lot of their dignity and respect is right out the window. They simply stepped aside and let this happen while lining their pockets. They're as implicit in this as Roefaro and Labella.

While a member of an Albany "good-government" group stated that this is "outrageous", it turns out that this is common practice with UPD. Are you kidding me! For the 15 mins BEFORE the start of their shift, they make 2 1/2 times their hourly rate. FOR SHOWING UP TO DO THEIR JOBS!

It's not on the OD site yet, must be trying to sell papers. I'll link it when it shows up or if anyone gets too it first, feel free.

So I guess I can count on being pulled over a whole lot in the next few weeks.

[snickers]

And remember; "They Work For Us!"

Sorry, I'd have to let them go. I can't afford that!

[rodwilson]

www.uticaod.com/news/x837463166/SHOW-UP-OR-NOT-AND-GET-PAID

[dgriffin]

From the OD:

"Corporation Counsel Linda Sullivan-Fatata, who helped negotiate the contract, said the show-up pay has to be taken in the context of the broader negotiations.

“Show up pay, it’s called that but it’s not literally that,” she said. “They’re getting it in consideration for coming in early, for staying late and for not getting night-differential and overtime.”

Seems reasonable on the face of it. They negotiated it in return for not receiving overtime, comp time or accruals.

[rodwilson]

"In the past, accruals led to large payouts in the cases of deputy chiefs Richard Stemmer and Pasquale Benzo and Police Chief C. Allen Pylman, all of whom left the department last year.

"Pylman, who retired at the request of the Roefaro administration in May 2008, was eventually paid $249,818 for the built-up time he accrued." Didn't this amount also include a settlement amount for future salary lost due to the early retirement?

"When Benzo retired last year, he was paid $61,864 for built-up compensatory, vacation and personal time.
Stemmer was paid $50,772."

Now we know the Pylman amounted to a payoff, what's the math on the other two? How many years accrual was that for?

They each got 3 year deals per the article (I thought Labella got a 20 year contract ?) so they're GUARANTEED $23,000 and $25,000 for the three year contract. So we GUARANTEE the money instead of actually have them accrue it. So you've gotta figure that none of these guys are leaving anytime soon so it's it's probably safe to assume that this will go on for 9 more years if they're negotiating 3 year deals and that puts them all @ around $100k per. That's $300K for a 12 year period. So I'd be really intrigued to see the amount of time bought out from the retired officials to see the math comparison.


My biggest concern is why was this money separated out from the salary portion of the contract as opposed to being right up front? They're getting it regardless. At the very LEAST for the 3 individuals involved given whole Labella fiasco, it just doesn't pass the smell test.

Salaried or exempt positions do not get overtime in the private sector, why should they here? Oh yeah, they have a union.

[dgriffin]

Sept 13, 2009 19:20:25 GMT -5 @rodwilson said:

Salaried or exempt positions do not get overtime in the private sector, why should they here? Oh yeah, they have a union.

True about the private sector, but my experience in the public sector is that in fact, even for supervisory employees, extra time spent on the job is in some way compensated. This has always been the case due to Union tail-wind.

Regardless, I share your frustration over public salaries and the means by which they're often disguised.

Did you catch the part about the ENTIRE police force getting "show up" pay? Since I think they get overtime too, that's even more egregious than The Three Chiefs.

[rodwilson]

Dave,

Agreed, agreed and agreed.

[Ralph]

I'm getting to feel that I really chose the wrong career path in life.

[dgriffin]

I've mentioned this before, but I have a nephew who's a policeman in an out of state city. He says double whatever figure you read in the paper regarding cop salaries. There are that many extra compensators.

[tommi250]

its insane that the upper echelon supervisors are receiving 'show up pay'. Please allow me to paint a picture for you.
Your scheduled work day is 7-3. The previous shift worked an 11-7. One of your first duties is to relieve that officer of his/her duties. Now where I work you cannot possibly relieve that person if you show up at lets say 6:55. Therefore it is scheduled that you are to show up at 6:45. Now during that 15 mins you also receive pertinent information regarding new policies, new procedures, possibly APB's, and the previous shift's activities. The 'show up pay' is a necessary evil inherent in those types of jobs. If this policy wasn't in effect then the OT would be paid out on the back end of the previous worker's shift because of late reliefs. Remember, this is PRIMARILY because there is a relief to be made. This same tenet holds true for Sgts. Now, the higher ups like Lt, Cpt, Maj, or in my case Deps, it would absurd to allow this type of policy to happen. Their reliefs are made face to face in the comfort of where you actually enter the workplace. That is even if there is a relief. There is no 11-7 Capt/Maj/Dep. And is highly unlikely that there is a 3-11 one either. These positions are conveniently scheduled to be the 7-3 shift or similar daytime shift. These ranks rarely conduct a line up of the officers. That responsiblity rests on the Sgts and Lts. So to extend the 'show up/ line up pay' to those ranks is absurd.
To be fair and honest, I get a line up pay. It accounts to 2 1/2 hours of OT every pay period. But it is necessary for my rank and position. I CANNOT see how those higher ranks are justified in receiving that extra pay.
In case you are wondering why 15 mins it is because you cannot be paid less than 15 mins of OT. There is no 8/9/11/14 mins of OT.

[Deleted]

Roefaro is simply paying back the UPD for the union endorsement which he recieved before the election. It's lousy stinking politics, pure & simple. Utica style.