Editor's note: In advance of the city's Act 47 recovery plan recommendation, the Mirror examined the city union contracts with workers. Today: Police contract and crossing guards
The city police contract calls for annual across-the-board raises of 2.5 percent, 3 percent and 3 percent, as applied to base pay.
Officers also get annual raises as they work their way up the patrolman's ladder. Officers attending the police academy and later in field training earn 60 percent of what a top patrolman earns.
Starting patrolmen earn 75 percent; second-years earn 80 percent; third-years, 85; fourth-years, 90; and fifth-years, 100 percent of that full-fledged patrolman's pay.
In 2012, the base pay for a full patrolman is $53,136.
After becoming full patrolmen, officers earn annual longevity bonuses, calculated as a percentage of base pay, with five increments, each five years apart. At each interval, the bonus rises by 2 percent.
At the bottom of that scale, officers with six to 10 years service get 2.5 percent of their base pay as an annual bonus. At the top of the scale, officers with 26 or more years get 10.5 percent of their base pay as bonus every year.
Those hired after the beginning of 2011 top out with longevity pay at 8.5 percent after 21 years.
Officers earn time-and-a-half their total pay - including increments for longevity, night differential and other extras - for anything more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week, except when they earn double time.
Officers get either time-and-a-half or compensatory time for off-duty appearances in court or coroner's hearings.
Tour commanders earn $750 a year extra. Lieutenants, sergeants and corporals get an extra 2 percent.
Officers working between 4 p.m. and 8 a.m. get an extra 5 percent "night differential."
Officers get an extra one-quarter pay for "stand-by" time.
Officers with at least 60 college credits related to law enforcement and with at least a C average earn an extra $200 a year "education differential"; those with at least 120 credits earn an extra $450.
The city provides officers with clothing and equipment and after a year's service, an annual maintenance allowance of $775.
Employees hired after the beginning of 2008 must sign a three-year commitment. Employees who leave within the first year must pay back the cost of clothing, equipment and field training. Employees who leave within the second year pay back 85 percent. Those who leave within the third year pay back 75 percent.
Time off
Officers get 12 paid holidays. If an officer works a holiday, he earns double pay plus a compensatory day off. Holidays that fall on Sunday are celebrated Monday, when Monday is the state holiday. Officers are guaranteed a minimum of four hours' pay for holiday work, provided they work at least one hour.
Officers on a schedule whose relief day is on a day when normally scheduled officers are celebrating a holiday celebrate their holiday the following day. Officers working on New Year's, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas get an extra half-day's pay.
Officers hired before 2000 get three weeks' vacation after one year, four weeks after 10 years and five weeks after 15 years.
Those hired after the beginning of 2000 get two weeks after one year, three weeks after five years, four weeks after 10 and five weeks after 15 years.
Those hired after the beginning of 2011 get two weeks after one year, three weeks after 11, four weeks after 16 years and five weeks after 21 years.
Officers get four personal days per year.
Fraternal Order of Police, Mountain Lodge No. 8, officials, designees and wage committee members get a total of 30 days per year paid absence for union business.
Health care
Officers receive 20 sick days a year and can bank up to 300 unused days. When they retire, they receive $25 for each unused day beyond 200. Any officer who accumulated at least 200 sick days by the beginning of 2011 got credit not only for those but also for all additional unused sick leave accumulated during the previous three years. Officers vested for retirement or retired on disability get half of the value of unused sick days.
Officers can take half their accumulated sick leave in cash. Officers qualifying for post-retirement healthcare can exchange 150 sick days for membership in the Qualified High Deductible Health Plan, and if they're eligible, a Health Savings Account, with the city covering all deductible costs until the age of Medicare eligibility. For those hired after the beginning of 2011, the city covers half the deductible costs upon retirement.
Officers are covered with the Highmark Qualified High Deductible Health Plan or its equivalent, as agreed on by the union. The deductible is $1,250 for individuals and $2,500 for families. The city pays 80 percent of those deductibles in 2011, 75 percent in 2012 and 50 percent in 2013. Officers pay a $50 a month co-share toward the premiums.
Officers who waive health coverage receive 30 percent of the premium.
Officers are covered under the United Concordia full dental program and they get the same vision coverage as firefighters.
Spouses and dependent children of officers killed directly or indirectly in the line of duty continue to receive the health insurance benefits in effect at the officer's death.
Officers are covered by a long-term disability policy, to which they contribute $3.25 per pay.
Survivors of an officer who dies during his term of service receive benefits as if the officer had retired.
Spouses of officers who die before reaching the age of Medicare eligibility receive the officers' health insurance benefit, until the spouse herself reaches Medicare eligibility.
The city must pay for a $50,000 term life insurance policy, with double indemnity for accidental death.
Disability
Officers receiving disability benefits may not work elsewhere during hours they would normally be working for the city.
The city can set up a light duty job for officers on disability, based on a doctor's judgment. After three months on disability, the officer will need medical evaluation to justify continuing.
Pension
The salary on which pensions are based can include up to $7,500 a year overtime.
Officers are vested for pensions after 12 years. Officers can retire after 20 years.
Grievances
Grievances are handled in four steps: discussion between the officer and his company commander; a written presentation to the chief, who meets with a union representative; a presentation to the city manager, who meets with unions representatives; and binding arbitration.
Officers can apply to the city manager for waiver of the requirement to live in the city.
The city will reimburse members for the cost of fighting criminal charges incurred in the line of duty, unless there's a guilty finding.
Merit promotions
Officers seeking promotion must pass a written exam to obtain an oral exam.
A candidate's evaluations, longevity, disciplinary actions, prior promotion record and use of sick leave are among the factors considered when evaluating fitness for promotion.
The chief and city manager promote from among the three highest scorers.
Patrolmen must be in the "top" category among their peers to be eligible to take the exam for promotion to corporal.
Corporals must serve two years and complete supervisory training before they can take the sergeant's examination.
Sergeants must serve two years and complete additional supervisory training to take the lieutenant's examination.
Agreement with crossing guards
The crossing guards may not strike, and the city may not lock them out.
Crossing guards who are not members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will have fair shares, tantamount to dues, withheld.
Crossing guards receive $34.94 per day for the first year, $35.64 for the second year and $36.35 for the third year.
Those on standby get two hours' pay at the rate set for the first year of the contract.
Crossing guards get five paid holidays.
They earn between three and 21 sick days a year, up to an accumulation of 200 days. Employees who don't use any sick days during a year get a personal day the following year.
Employees with 15 years' service get 30 percent of the value of their first 100 unused sick days and 50 percent of the value of the rest.
Crossing guards get a $5,000 a year clothing allowance.
Crossing guards can join the city health plan but must pay their own premiums.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 939-7038.
