TPPA contract finally approved

DOWNTOWN TOLEDO - Toledo City Council has approved a new, three-year contract for the Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association. Council voted Tuesday night approving the contract by an 8-3 count.

"We had a close vote by TPPA and we had a close vote tonight here at council so what's clear to me is the fact that both sides realize we had to give some up and make some concessions,” said Councilwoman Lindsay Webb. “We had a close vote and that tells me we've done right by the citizens of Toledo."

The Toledo Police Patrolman's Association's last contract expired at the end of December. The new one will go through 2011. It includes several concessions. They include: No raises for two years, but there will be a 3 and a half percent increase in year three Officers will pay a 7% contribution to pensions. There will be no overtime pay until March of 2010 although comp time can be used or overtime can be banked until then. And officers will make monthly health care contributions - 25 bucks per person, or 55 dollars for a family.

"At the end of the day it was a concessionary contract. That's what we've been asking our employees in the city of Toledo to do. They did it. It saves three million dollars in the first two years," said Councilman Joe McNamara.

However, Councilman Frank Szollosi – who voted against the contract – feels the concessions the union agreed to did not go deep enough.

"We're asking our employees, our secretaries, our clerks, some of our other professionals to take a 20% hit this year and next year. And from where I sit that is not consistent with the contract we passed tonight. So I voted no on issues of fairness,” said Szollosi.

The city now needs to reach agreements with two other unions. Negotiations are underway with Local 92 which represents firefighter and the Toledo Police Command Officers Association.