While we know this blog is widely read by APD officers and citizens alike we also know it is read by APD brass and top city administrators. For those department and city leaders that even for a minute think of harming Mr. Maurer in any way for his statements herein, you are on notice that not only is he expressing his opinion as a private citizen, but also as a member of a recognized labor organization. Despite that, we know this administration has history of unlawful retaliation against its employees who are outspoken and critical of the city and the department. For that we have this warning and notice:
If Mr. Maurer incurs any harm, disadvantage, encumbrance, or is otherwise hindered by actions of APD brass or city personnel we will assist Mr. Maurer in every way possible to ensure he realizes relief from those actions and that those parties who harmed him are personally held liable. Freedom of expression and freedom of association are liberties we hold dear as Americans and if certain city personnel choose inflict any such anti-American actions on Mr. Maurer we will do everything we can to hold those persons accountable in a court of law.
Vote NO
on the APOA Contract
There are many reasons
not to vote for the new contract however one of the most obvious ones is the
4.5 hours of your vacation time. This demand by the city is indicative of the
way the city administration views its employees (not just 34’s but all employees).
The administration has no desire to foster good employee management relations.
The city’s top priority is not to work with us to protect and serve or provide
city services but to use us to accomplish their goals.
I have no problem with authority or a
structure of authority. That is the only way to accomplish a task or multitude
of tasks when dealing with such a large number of employees. In order to be successful, efficient, and
effective authority needs to work with its employees not against them. Three
years of ignoring the APOA’s contract and the city’s obligation to honor that
contract is not indicative of a willingness to work with employees. The city
has a responsibility to deal with our initial contract before any other
contractual changes should be considered.
Some items of note:
1. Over
56 changes, deletions, or modifications to existing contract provisions
2. There
is no pay scale in the contract except for PTU Officers
3. The
family insurance benefit is not included in the wording of the new agreement
4. The
Take Home Car plan excludes anyone hired after 07/01/2011 and anyone living
outside of Bernalillo County
5. 4.5
hours of donated leave time (no provision for monitoring this fund or what
happens if this amount of funding is to little or not enough, what happens if
you only work 6 months for APD when payment is due, what if you retire in
midyear do you get half of this time back, etc. It will cost more to monitor
this fund that to pay the APOA president 40 hours and the vice president 20
hours a week )
6. Why
the rush to have a contact now, why can’t the membership have more than a few
days to review and digest this proposal
7. While
voting to ratify this proposal does not negate our current breach of contract
law suit it most certainly will effect it
8. The
city failed to honor the last contract what makes this one binding
The list goes on and
on. The point is that much more than a very small increase of pay is at stake
here, APD’s future is on the line. How we react will determine how future
contracts will be negotiated and adhered to. I am not against the
administration or the city. I am for what is right, fair and best for the
Albuquerque Police Department and the citizens of Albuquerque.
Brian Maurer
We thank Mr. Maurer for stepping up and presenting reasonable arguments against this proposed contract. If there are persons interested in countering Mr. Maurer's assessment, by all means email us your article and we will give you equal access.
