BROOKLYN – Two police unions are accusing New York City leaders of unfair treatment.
The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association released a new ad titled “Jennifer,” which accuses Mayor Bill de Blasio and his administration of “refusing to support fair pay for New York City police officers.”
The ad features a mother talking about facing difficulties living in the city on her husband’s current police salary. In a press release, the PBA says the ad is part of a seven-figure television campaign to highlight alleged broken promises by the mayor. The union says New York City officers make 34 percent less than other officers, both locally and nationally.
News 12 reached out to the mayor’s office and received a statement in response that says, “Our door has always been and continues to be open to the PBA to negotiate a long-term contract, as we’ve done with nearly the entire city workforce to date.”
A representative also countered the union’s pay claims by saying that city officers make more than other departments, and that the city spent over $170,000 per officer in June 2015, including salary and benefits.
However, the PBA says the mayor’s office only wants to negotiate on its own terms.
Meanwhile, Sergeants Benevolent Association President Ed Mullins said on a radio show Sunday that NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton has worn out his welcome. Mullins accused Bratton of having double standards and punishing high-ranking officers less severely.
News 12 reached out to Mullins, who declined to comment. News 12 is also still awaiting a response from Commissioner Bratton about the claims.