Gravesend Assemblyman Bill Colton and Coney Island City Councilman Mark Treyger joined hundreds of cops today in a protest outside the home of a state arbitrator granting the City’s police officers a paltry 1% pay increase per year for the years 2010 and 2011.
The Patrolman’s Benevolent Association, which represents rank-and-file cops on the street decided to enter in a binding arbitration with independent state-appointed arbitrator, Howard Edelman, after union reps felt they were getting nowhere dealing with the de Blasio Administration.
But Edelman submitted a draft proposal this week with the 1% increases – the same pattern of raises given to other uniformed unions, including the sergeants, lieutenants, captains and police detectives.
“I am outraged at the very time of suffering the loss of the fourth New York City Police officer in eleven months, that anyone would issue a finding that New York’s Finest are only worth a 1%pay per year increase for the years 2010 and 2011,” said Colton.
“An arbitrator who lives in a million Manhattan penthouse issuing a decision that our police officers who give 100% for us are only worth and who have not had a salary increase since 2010 are only entitled to a one percent per year increase is outrageous and disrespectful,” he added.
Bay Ridge City Councilman Vinnie Gentile also backs the cops getting more money.
“One percent. Apparently that’s what wealthy arbitrator Howard Edelman thinks the men and women who walk the thin blue line are worth. A 1% raise for any profession, let alone for a NYPD Officer, is a slap in the face. Did Edelman, chairman of the Public Employment Relations board, confuse his “1 percenter” status with his proposed 1% raise for the men and women who protect him and this city every day? This is a complete joke,” said Gentile.
“I stand with the PBA and President Patrick Lynch and demand that this preposterous and disrespectful proposal be rescinded and reevaluated. This is an incomprehensible disservice to the NYPD who sacrifice their well being by standing in the face of danger while we work our usual 9-5. Mr. Edelman, please do not exit your penthouse until you have an appropriate and deserving raise in hand for the men and women in blue of this great city.”
Earlier this morning in KCP’s Brooklyn Lawmakers On The Move, Bay Ridge State Senator Marty Golden echoed similar comments.
“The draft plan for a 1% increase over two years is insulting and well below the rate of inflation in our region. If approved, this contract undoubtedly will fail to recognize the true sacrifice of our police officers, and along with a number of reforms, this will further damage the morale of those who protect us,” said Golden. .
