FOP Meeting 20 Dec 2011

From Kevin C. Jans  Unit Rep 020

The Lodge is requesting your attendance at 26 and Cal on the following days:

10 Jan 12 Rm 404 In Memory of Officer Michael Flisk

20 Jan 12 Rm 702 In Memory of Officer Nathaniel Taylor

24 Jan 12 Rm 207 In Memory of Officer Alex Valadez

Father Brant will be holding a public prayer for each of these Officers Killed in the Line of Duty, outside the courthouse prior to the above scheduled dates when their killers will appear in court.

The two pension reform bills that past in Springfield, HB-3813 and HB-3815, addressed the pension abuses that never affected our pension fund.  All of our past presidents get their earned pension.  As they have all been the rank of Detective when they retired, that’s the pension they get.  No enhancements for being the president of the FOP.  HB-512 was not brought up for a vote, however the Lodge expects that it will come up again.  Governor Quinn has said that he is against any reduction in police or fire pension benefits to FOP President Shields.

The MD at the medical section is giving recurring IOD officers a list of three doctors to choose from to receive medical care.  The Lodge won an arbitration on this practice.  You get to choose from a list of thousands on the “Workmen’s Choice List”.  Most of who are also on Blue Cross and Blue Shield list of providers.  If you have any problems or questions, call the Lodge.

The City is changing the time for Limited Duty Non-IOD officers to 365 days total for your career, then back to full duty or go on disability.  If this goes into effect the 365 day clock will be set from the day the order goes into effect, no one will have any days taken for past Limited duty days.  The Lodge expects an order to be out soon.  The Lodge will grieve it on the grounds of past practice.  The Lodge has been in talks with the City on this, but the city is forcing the issue.  There are 310 officers on limited duty Non-IOD.

Ret. Capt. John Farrell has proven to be a great benefit to our officers involved in shootings.  The Lodge is adding Retired Detective Kris Kato to help out.  There has been a 25% increase in police shootings this year.

There are several arbitrations on going, one that we hope to have a decision on 02 Feb 12 is the length of time that IPRA can take to complete an investigation.  The Lodge is also trying to get a ruling on what “random” means when it comes to drug testing, as there have been times in the past that it wasn’t so “random”.  Remember starting 01 Jan 12, all officers will be given a breath test as part of the drug testing procedure.  See appendix T in the contract for more info on alcohol testing.

The number of training districts arbitration was lost.  FTOs who had a grievance in concerning their status lost with this ruling.  The Lodge also lost the ET’s starting time grievance.  Military personal will be able to change their day off group for training, check with the Lodge for more info.  5^th period furlo was to be heard on 18 Jan 12, but the date has been cancelled.  The Lodge has no problem having officers work during their furlo, but pay them time and a half.  Don’t close furlo periods just to prevent officers from receiving what’s due to them.