PEABODY — The police union has recently lobbied city councilors to support a provision within the new police contract that makes Sept. 11 a paid holiday for officers.
Councilors, who must vote whether to fund the contract, received literature from the union at their homes, including letters supporting the holiday from the New York City Police, the New York/New Jersey Port Authority Police and the Massachusetts Coalition of Police. A collage of photographs showing firefighters and police officers killed in the terrorist attacks was among the materials, according to councilors.
Union officials also placed calls to at least four of the 11 councilors and visited at least one at his workplace to discuss the holiday, which would pay officers time and a quarter on Sept. 11.
The holiday was part of a four-year agreement that the city struck with the union in October. The provision sparked a backlash against the police from many who accused them of exploiting a tragedy to increase their pay.
Councilors interviewed this week did not have a problem with the union contacting them about the holiday. They viewed it as the union taking an opportunity to tell their side of the story after local and national media reports generated a storm of negative attention.
"They were looking to explain why they thought Sept. 11 would be an appropriate holiday," City Councilor Ted Bettencourt said.
Union President Manny Costa and Officer John Nelson visited Bettencourt at his law office on Main Street. It was a cordial exchange, said Bettencourt, who had been publicly critical of the holiday.
"Certainly, they weren't browbeating me to vote for it. It was more informational," Bettencourt said. He could not recall if the officers were in uniform.
The packets of information arrived at councilors' homes about a month ago.
"It was pretty moving, honestly," Councilor Robert Driscoll said of the materials.
In a phone message left Tuesday night, Costa told The Salem News that the packet included letters from the president of the New York City police union, two vice presidents of the Port Authority police and a letter from the Massachusetts Coalition of Police. Costa said in his message that he would be willing to provide the newspaper with the letters, but he could not be reached by phone or e-mail yesterday.
Many councilors said that they had already thrown out the packet. Councilor Dave Gamache recalled that it had pages of head shots of people, mostly firefighters, killed in the 2001 attacks. Bettencourt said photographs of police officers were also included, as were images of the wreckage in New York.
No vote scheduled yet
Councilors do not have a role in contract negotiations, but they do vote on the money needed to fund any increase for this fiscal year.
That vote is not likely to be scheduled until sometime in the new year. Mayor Michael Bonfanti said he is waiting until he wraps up new contracts with some of the city's other unions before submitting funding requests to the council.
Councilor Jim Liacos said he would not let opposition to one piece of the contract jeopardize all of what the city and union accomplished at the bargaining table.
"We're not involved in negotiations," Liacos said. "I'm voting for a transfer of funds. Even though I might not like that provision, there is a lot more in the contract than that."
Gamache expressed similar faith in the collective bargaining process.
"I'm a firm believer that if you've negotiated something and everybody understands what's on the table, then so be it," he said.
The police contract signed Oct. 2 gives officers 13 percent raises over four years. In exchange, police agreed to contribute 5 percent more toward their health insurance premiums, pay more for doctor's office and emergency room visits and submit to random hair-follicle drug testing.
'Still torn'
Peabody's Sept. 11 provision is groundbreaking for a police union, according to state and national union representatives. New York City's 24,000 police officers don't get it as a paid holiday. Firefighters in Derry, N.H., recently gave up Columbus Day to receive holiday pay on Sept. 11.
Costa, when defending the holiday in October, said the union thought it would be an appropriate way to honor and remember Sept. 11.
"I'm still torn about it," Bettencourt said. "I haven't made up my mind either way."
Councilor Dave Gravel preferred not to comment on the holiday until he had the chance to review the entire contract. He said he was still waiting to receive a copy from the city.
But Gravel said he was not surprised that the union reached out to councilors. He saw similar tactics while negotiating contracts as a member of the School Committee, he said.
Councilor Michael Garabedian said he had not yet reviewed the union's packet. "I'm going to withhold my comments until I read through it thoroughly," he said.
Councilors Barry Sinewitz, Rico Mello, Arthur Athas, Barry Osborne and Anne Manning could not be reached for comment.
The union's efforts likely mean the contract will not be amended to separate Sept. 11 from extra pay, though Bonfanti said talks toward that end between the city and the union are not dead.
Bonfanti, however, is prepared to stand behind the existing agreement.
"I signed a contract, and they did, as well, and I will honor what I signed," he said.
The mayor did not object to the union's outreach to councilors.
"It's the United States of America, and people have the right to do what they want," Bonfanti said. "From that perspective, I don't have a problem with it."
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