Politics & Government
Nazareth Police Union Files Grievance Over Schedule Change
Mayor Fred Daugherty Jr. says the shift change would make it easier for the payroll clerk to track shift differentials.
The Nazareth Borough Police Association on Wednesday filed a grievance against the borough, claiming Mayor Fred Daugherty Jr. is violating a union contract by adjusting shifts without first having a Scheduling Committee meet -- and come to an agreement -- with the union.
According to documents obtained by Patch, Daugherty sent Police Chief Thomas Trachta a letter , which went into effect on Feb. 1.
The standard 12-hour shifts changed to:
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- 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., instead of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., instead of 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
However, on the last page of a full-time officer’s contract -- section 15, of which the mayor may or may not be in violation -- is a provision that deals with scheduling:
A Scheduling Committee shall be established to deal with scheduling issues. The Committee shall be made up of equal representation by the police and the borough. The Committee shall be established on or before June 30, 2006 and shall consider the matter of alternate scheduling system.
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A Scheduling Committee has not met with the Nazareth Borough Police Association to discuss the mayor's changes.
In addition to the possibile contract violation, according to Trachta, the hours that were in place took "into consideration that most of our employees are part time and work elsewhere.”
The department's three full-time officers all work for multiple departments, according to Trachta. Out of the 10 part-time officers, eight work for other departments and one works a security job.
In an e-mail to Patch, Daugherty declined to comment on the situation. In a memo dated Feb. 21, however, Daugherty was prepared for -- and seemed to be anticipating -- the police union filing a grievance.
Daugherty says the change would make it easier for the payroll clerk to track shift differentials -- officers who work late shifts receive additional pay.
"The added benefit of the change is to avoid grievances over wage discrepancies created by cumbersome, confusing and complicated compensation formulas," Daugherty writes.
According to a full-time officer's contract, the work day is divided into three shifts:
- The base pay rate is applicable to the first shift.
- Officers who work between 3 and 11 p.m. receive base pay plus 60 cents per hour.
- Officers who work between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. receive base pay plus 75 cents per hour.
- In a two-week pay period, a full-time officer works six 12-hour shifts and one 8-hour shift (on Sunday).
In January, according to a report in The Express-Times, an arbitrator ruled that Nazareth officials violated a union contract by not paying about seven full-time police officers additional pay for working late shifts.
Only two full-time officers are currently on the job. Officer Stephen Schleig is out on workers' compensation after in July.
Though anticipating a filing, the mayor hoped to avoid a grievance.
"Should the association wish to discuss a solution to the current situation, it would be my pleasure to meet with you for further discussion face to face," Daugherty writes.
The letter was dated Feb. 21, one day before the union filed the grievance.
The operating costs of the borough’s police department -- and escalating insurance costs mainly due to workers' compensation claims -- has been the driving factor in the and contract services from .
In December, to buy coverage from Colonial Regional after a full year went by without any negotiations.
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