SalemNews.com, Salem, MA
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Councilors pan 9/11 pay; backlash shocks union head
Published: October 21, 2008
PEABODY — City Councilor Anne Manning yesterday called a new provision that makes Sept. 11 a paid holiday for police officers a "dark cloud looming over the police contract."
Ward 6 Councilor Barry Sinewitz said the terrorist attacks should not be linked to additional pay for officers.
"It was a tragic day, and it has nothing to do with getting paid time-and-a-(quarter)" he said. "I just don't think that it's appropriate."
The city and police union settled on a new four-year contract earlier this month that includes the Sept. 11 holiday pay. While the City Council does not have a role in contract negotiations, it does vote on the money needed to fund any increase for this fiscal year. Councilors interviewed yesterday expressed a range of views about the provision, from support to opposition to bewilderment.
"I don't have enough information to understand the logic of it," Councilor Dave Gravel said. "I have never heard of a city creating a holiday."
It's simple, said police union president Manny Costa. The union thought it would be an appropriate way to honor and remember Sept. 11 and the city, including Mayor Michael Bonfanti, was receptive, he said.
A negative backlash that accuses the police of cynically using Sept. 11 to boost their pay has blindsided the union, said Costa, who has read the outrage in Internet comments attached to stories about the contract.
"Never in our wildest dreams did we ever think this would happen," Costa said.
It didn't even occur to those at the bargaining table that the provision could be seen as exploiting the tragedy, Costa said.
"That was never, ever thought of," he said. "I'm not looking to cash in because thousands of people lost their lives."
Police officers, firefighters and emergency medical responders "stepped up" on Sept. 11, 2001, and the holiday is a way to acknowledge that, he said.
The new police contract signed Oct. 2 also 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 drug testing.
Manning said including the Sept. 11 holiday was an "error in judgment" that has generated a lot of calls from constituents who are unhappy about it.
"It struck a nerve with a lot of people," she said.
The holiday pay is overshadowing the contract and demands an explanation from Bonfanti, Manning said.
"I would hope the mayor would act quickly in explaining the rationale so we can get to the merits of the contract," she said.
"I guess I don't really know what to say about it," Ward 1 Councilor Barry Osborne said. "It's a strange one."
But Osborne said he would not vote against funding the contract because it makes Sept. 11 a paid holiday. "I'm a firm believer in collective bargaining. If that's what came out of the process, then that's fine."
Gravel can't remember a time negotiating contracts as a School Committee member when the creation of a holiday was discussed at the bargaining table.
"It seems like just a way of paying more in the contract," he said.
Bonfanti has yet to forward a request for contract funds to the council, City Clerk Tim Spanos said. When a request is made, the council typically refers it to its Finance Committee to review.
Councilor Mike Garabedian supports the provision and said that the city's and police union's "heart was in the right place." He just wished Peabody wasn't alone in implementing it.
"It's a good thing that we're doing it, but it should be trended across the whole country," Garabedian said.
The Sept. 11 provision is groundbreaking, according to state and national union representatives. New York City's 24,000 police officers don't get it as a paid holiday
"Did we know that we were the first in the country to do this? No," Costa said.
He hopes that it will spread. But he also said that if he could have predicted the reaction, the provision might not have been included at all.
City Councilors Robert Driscoll, Jim Liacos, Arthur Athas, David Gamache, Ted Bettencourt and Rico Mello did not return calls to comment.
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