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Newark Police Union Leader Chooses Layoffs Over Negotiation, Puts A City At Risk

Newark Fraternal Order of Police President Derrick Hatcher cut off negotiations with Mayor Cory Booker on Monday, forcing 167 police layoffs, according to a reports in the Star Ledger and Bloomberg.com.

Hatcher did not allow his rank and file to vote of the Mayor’s proposals.

Bloomberg quoted union Vice President Walter Melvin blaming the spike in violence in Newark over the Thanksgiving weekend on the impending layoffs:

“The criminal element out there realized this and believed it had already happened,” he said in a telephone interview following Booker’s announcement. “It’s a fallacy to think public safety is not going to be an issue here. Any thinking, logical person can see that.”

That’s right. The police union knowingly chose no sacrifice for its senior members over the jobs of its junior members and over public safety.

This is a perfect example why union membership is inappropriate for government workers.  The union leadership now has more impact on public safety in Newark than the Mayor and the police department leadership does.

Booker is closing a $89 million budget deficit. $9.5 million of the deficit will come from the police layoff.  400 civilian employees are also being laid off in Newark.

Posted: November 30th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Newark | Tags: , , , | Comments Off on Newark Police Union Leader Chooses Layoffs Over Negotiation, Puts A City At Risk