The city’s largest police union is taking its feud with Mayor de Blasio to the airwaves.
The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association has launched a new radio ad campaign accusing the mayor of contributing to income inequality by refusing to raise wages for cops and for not backing an increase in disability benefits.
The ads, which begin airing on over half a dozen stations on Thursday, feature the mayor talking about his signature issue of income inequality, and contrast his words with what the PBA says is his unfair treatment to cops.
“Mayor de Blasio says he supports working men and women … but when it comes to supporting our police officers, these words are empty promises,” the ad claims.
Cops have been locked in a contract dispute with City Hall since their pacts expired in 2010.
A recent arbitration award granting them 1% raises for 2010 to 2012 fueled bad tensions between City Hall and the union, which thought the payouts were too low.
The PBA is fighting for hire raises for the remaining contract years.
The 23,000-member union is also fighting for state legislation to increase disability benefits for cops hurt in the line of duty.
De Blasio doesn’t support a change in the state law – which lowered the benefits to a measly $ 40 a day in some cases — because he said it costs too much.
“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,” said de Blasio spokeswoman Amy Spitalnick.
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