Tulsa FOP never satisfied

[pfox]

quote:Originally posted by Wilbur

quote:Originally posted by pfox

quote: ALL city employees got pay raises in the same area of 8% this year, not just police.  Attrition has dropped, but mostly because of a decrease in retirements, not officers leaving for higher paying jobs (we're getting ready to lose a couple soon to the feds).  And to say police got 'closer to where they should be' is only slightly true.  We went from last place in the pay survey to last place in the pay survey.  While Tulsa officers got 10% over two years (that's an average of 5% a year), the other cities also got pay raises, so our movement didn't really result in anything.  The only time Tulsa will move up the list is when we get raises and other cities don't (that rarely happens) or when the city makes a commitment to steady pay increases over a several years.  If you want your police force to be paid at the bottom of the pay scale yet require college education at the top of the scale, call your city counselor.  I pray we never turn into a Miami of the 70's, a Houston of the 80's, or a New Orleans of the 90's.   And there is nothing wrong with a union fighting to get both pay raises AND increased staffing, both of which are drastically needed at Tulsa PD.

You know...that sounds an awful lot like extortion to me.

Guess what? We average workers at the city and city funded agencies are ALL underpaid. Guess what? I still do my job to the best of my ability.  Would I like more? Yes? Do other communities pay urban planners with master's degrees more than they do here? Absolutely. Do I tell the city, "well I am afraid of what might happen to our transportation systems if I don't get paid more"? No, I don't.  

It's one thing to ask for a raise. It's another to make veiled threats when you don't get exactly what you want.

We can all hope you aren't in the law enforcement business if you somehow construe that as extortion.  I said I pray that doesn't happen here.  This is extortion to you?

If you would check several of my prior posts, I have always agreed ALL city employees deserve to be paid at least average, not just police.  And I work my butt off too.

The City has already lowered the standards used for psychological testing results for police applicants because not enough qualified applicants were applying.  What standards do we lower next?

My point being, Miami, Houston and New Orleans started lowering standards and their pay went into the toilet.  As a result, corruption became rampant.  I pray that doesn't happen here.


Are we still on topic?

All things being equal, I'd love to see Tulsa's police force be paid as much as possible.  Aside from schoolteachers, there may not be a more undervalued job.  That being said, I don't like hearing from, I am assuming, one of our officers, "I pray we don't turn into Miami, Houston, or New Orleans."

There are a lot of us working really really hard to make Tulsa the great city it can be, and crime, violent crime in particular, is one of the obstacles.  We need a smart, efficient police force.  We value the work you do, because you have to deal with the symptoms of a greater problem.  So thank you for that.  But if it's just about the money, well... join the club.

[Wilbur]

quote: There are a lot of us working really really hard to make Tulsa the great city it can be, and crime, violent crime in particular, is one of the obstacles. We need a smart, efficient police force. We value the work you do, because you have to deal with the symptoms of a greater problem. So thank you for that. But if it's just about the money, well... join the club.

It's not just about the money.  I love the job and would do it for less (but please don't tell anybody).  

Having your employer send you a message that says you are valued once in a while is always nice.  One way employers do that is through salaries.  All the FOP has ever asked for was to be paid average, nothing more.  If we were at the top of the pay scale and the FOP was constantly complaining about pay, I might understand some of the FOP bashers here.

I would love to see all city employees brought to average.  Having heard the city say it is their goal to do so for more then 20 years, makes you wonder if the message is B.S.  There obviously has not been any movement to achieve the goal.

[AVERAGE JOE]

quote:Originally posted by MH2010

Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE

The FOP whining about how the TPD got the shaft from the Mayor is like Al Sharpton crying racism. Happens so frequently nobody pays attention to their schtick anymore. Even if there's actual truth or value to their message, they've howled in righteous indignation so loudly for so long, they've worn people out... to the point of being tuned out.

Tulsa police officers are a dedicated group of men and women who serve this city well. The FOP is a big fat crybaby in need of a diaper change.
[/quote}

The FOP is made up of Tulsa Police officers.  Has your opinion of Tulsa Police officers changed now?

Congratulations, you just passed JOE101: Introduction to Irony.

[NormDPloom]

The FOP is a union, right?
Unions have destroyed American industry,by filling it with over-paid employees with no desire to work. Steel,Auto,Airline,Textile,etc. But,in government(teachers,law enforcement,etc.) they managed to do it without good pay.

[tulsa_fan]

Civil Service Commission Backs Mayor
(Tulsa, Ok) -- A win for Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor. The Civil Service Commission rules the mayor doesn't have to hire Tulsa's new police chief from within the department. An attorney representing three rejected candidates indicates he will seek an injunction in an effort to block the mayor from moving ahead.