ALBANY - The latest arbitration award to be handed down for Albany police officers has left those who protect and serve the capital city feeling underappreciated.
Albany Budget Director Michael Wheeler said a hearing officer's interest arbitration award will cost the city roughly $600,000 to compensate the 279 officers, who are represented by Albany Police Officer’s Union Council 82, for 2014 and 2015.
Albany officers entered into arbitration in 2015 after the union and city officials were unable to reach an agreement on a new contract. Their contract expired at the end of 2013.
The cost, which hasn’t been finalized, will be retroactive with no raises given for 2014 and a 1 percent increase for 2015. However, that increase in pay isn’t effective until Dec. 31, 2015, Wheeler said.
The decision anger leaders of the police union.
“It’s literally a slap in the face for every member in this police department,” said Albany Officer Greg McGee, vice-president of the officer’s union. “The city touts all the accomplishments that we do on a day-to-day basis, but when it comes to compensation, they forget us.”
The arbitration award comes as Albany officials must manage a scuttled land sale in Coeymans that was budgeted to bring in $620,000 and now a $500,000 shortfall in the additional aid the city hoped to receive from the state.
Wheeler said the award lends credence to the city’s fiscal constraints, but officials are committed to bringing all contracts up-to-date.
Last year, the city absorbed a roughly $1.3 million interest arbitration award for the Albany Police Department’s supervisors. While the city anticipated the latest settlement, Wheeler said the budget will have to be analyzed to see where savings can help cover the cost.
“We definitely do not want contracts out there lingering,” Wheeler said. “We want our employees to feel secure, feel important and they matter to us. Obviously, our fiscal constraints do limit much of what we can do, but we’re still committed to making the best effort we can.”
McGee said the union recognizes city's the financial challenges, particularly with a large portion of property being tax-exempt. But lower salaries for Albany officers makes it challenging to keep employees, he said.
Surrounding communities offer higher pay in comparison to Albany, contributing to turnover in the city department, McGee said. For example, by the fifth year of employment, officers in Bethlehem make 21 percent more than an Albany officer in their fifth year. In Colonie and Guilderland, it’s 18 percent more at that point, he said.
High turnover increases taxpayers costs because it forces the city to hire and train more recruits. Meanwhile, other communities who entice a seasons Albany police officer avoids training costs, McGee said.
With the award made public, the union and city plan to continue negotiations to address the outstanding contract.
“We’d like to start negotiations right away for the new contract to try and bring us current to the year 2018,” McGee said. “It’s imperative, even with this award. The officers are still going to go out and provide the community members and taxpayers here exemplary service.”