Police union predicts action as recent talks stall

Since representatives of the Yale Police Benevolent Association (YPBA) walked out of contract negotiations on Thurs., Dec.11, talks between the union and the University have continued to go nowhere. And without substantial progress on a new contract, the frustrated police union has been left to consider a number of possible job actions.

According to YPBA President Carlos Perez, the officers' union is frustrated with the pace of negotiations and will not wait much longer for movement on key issues such as pensions, disability, and an employee bill of rights. "We are frustrated with the games they are playing," he said. "This is nothing but a big game for Yale." The union has been working without a contract since June 1996.

In a Mon., Jan. 12 newsletter to YPBA officers, union officials expressed their displeasure with the nature of the talks in December and highlighted the impasse in negotiations. "[The] University was unwilling to change their unreasonable, intransigent position," it said. "The University is counting on your frustration in not having a contract; they are hoping that we fold and withdraw our proposals. But we must remain vigilant!"

The union is now considering other options to pressure the University. "[Yale] has not been bargaining in good faith since day one. Something is in the works. Something is going to happen," Perez said.

The YPBA has already distributed pamphlets and held a December rally, yet Treasurer Christopher Morganti said there are no immediate plans to strike. The union, however, is considering job actions which Morganti described as the "closest you could get to a strike."

Specifically, Morganti said, the union could participate in a "speed up" where officers "enforce the letter of the law," or a "slow down" where they "don't do any work." In addition, the union could refuse to work overtime. Commenting on a time frame for these actions--or a strike--Morganti said, "We'll know it when we see it."

Morganti reported, however, that the union's lawyer will contact University negotiators in the next few days. "We're waiting on Yale," he said. "It may just come down to a phone call."

Liz Oliner/YH James Juhas, the Univrsity's lead negotiator, said that the union's demands are 'not very realistic.'

Yale negotiators realize that the December stalemate has pushed the union one step closer to the breaking point, but describe the YPBA demands as unreasonable.

"[A strike] might happen," James Juhas, the University's lead negotiator, said. "It doesn't appear that they want to reach an agreement. Their demands are very extravagant and not very realistic. I have absolutely no idea [when an agreement will be reached]." If a strike does occur, Juhas stated that the University has "contingency plans," but declined to discuss the details.

The sticking points in negotiations continue to be the eligibility age for pensions, an increase in long-term disability benefits, an employee bill of rights, and rewording the details of the overtime clause.

The union also continues to push for the elimination of the "No Strike/No Lockout" clause, which holds the union leaders responsible if union members walk out. The union filed a claim with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over this clause. According to Juhas, however, the claim was rejected by the NLRB this week.

With these issues still unresolved--and no progress in sight--union members are feeling the strain of working two years without a contract. "There is a morale problem," Morganti said. Yet Assistant Police Chief James Perrotti, who was not at the negotiations, contends that the dispute has not affected the relationships between officers and department heads.

"The officers are a very professional group. They have not let contract negotiations get in the way," he said.

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