The union representing police patrolmen — which was once led by Mayor D. Michael Collins — voted down a proposed three-year contract that was hammered out last week with the mayor days before he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Toledo Chief of Staff Robert Reinbolt and Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association President Dan Wagner said the 476-member union voted down the contract today after a second day of voting.
The city and the union had been scheduled to meet with a fact-finder because the two sides had been unable to come to an agreement. That impasse was averted late last week, Mayor Collins said on Friday.
The proposed terms were not immediately available.
Mr. Reinbolt said the contract included “a very unusual portion” that Mayor Collins crafted and was agreed to by the union leaders. It would have given more compensation to veteran patrolmen, he said.
Toledo City Council last week approved new contracts with the city’s rank-and-file firefighters’ union and the union representing police command officers. An analysis by the administration of Mayor Collins showed the firefighters’ agreement would cost taxpayers an additional $1.58 million over three years and the command officers’ agreement will cost about $300,000 additional over three years.
The contract with Toledo Firefighters Local 92 grants 0.75 percent annual raises for the three-year agreement and increases the department’s “minimum manning” requirement from 103 to 107. It will go up to 110 on Jan. 1, 2017. The minimum-manning requirement in the past has been blamed for the department’s over-budget overtime costs.
Council voted 8-2 in favor of the Local 92 contract. Councilmen Mike Craig and Tom Waniewski voted against the agreement.
The Local 92 contract also increases what the city must pay monthly for each firefighter’s medical insurance from $916 to $961 this year; to $985 in 2016, and then $1,010 in 2017.
The city also must buy each firefighter a second set of bunker gear.
Council voted 10-0 in favor of the Toledo Police Command Officers Association agreement. Councilmen Rob Ludeman and Lindsay Webb were not present.
That contract also grants 0.75 percent annual increases but Mayor Collins said wages for Toledo Police Command Officers Association are set with a formula based on what patrolmen are paid. After the city reaches a new agreement with the Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association, compensation for command officers could change. The city and the patrolman’s union are scheduled to meet with a fact finder because the two sides could not reach an agreement.
Contact Ignazio Messina at: imessina@theblade.com or 419-724-6171 or on Twitter @IgnazioMessina