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Police
Raises Approved by Legislature; Funds for Education Incentives Blocked
Funding for a now-expired UMass Police contract cleared the Legislature last week, but without the educational incentives the officers have been seeking. Just before the formal legislative session ended on July 31, lawmakers approved a supplemental appropriations bill that includes $399,000 to fund 3 percent annual pay raises covered by a three-year contract that ended June 30. The measure does not contain $250,000 to fund educational incentive pay for officers with associate's, bachelor's or master's degrees. The bill is now on Gov. Paul Cellucci's desk. According to Beacon Hill observers, the educational incentives were opposed by House Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Paul Haley (D-Weymouth). Sgt. Tom O'Donnell, president of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers (IBPO) Local 423B, said campus officials have indicated the long-awaited raises could be in paychecks within the next few weeks. Retroactive pay is expected by Nov. 1, he said. "I think people are happy that we're getting something at this point," said O'Donnell. "We're pushing for the base increases to be paid as soon as possible." But he added that officers are still frustrated by the lack of legislative support for educational incentives, which are already available to State Police and Environmental Police at state expense. The state also pays half of the cost for educational incentive pay in municipalities that have adopted the Quinn Bill. Haley's opposition to the incentives for UMass Police puzzles union leaders, said O'Donnell. "We're not sure how that has come about," he said. "That's why we need to get some answers." If the educational incentives stay blocked at the State House, said O'Donnell, the union will bring the is-sue back to the bargaining table. "We still believe we bargained in good faith and that the University
or the state needs to pick that cost up," he said. "I think people
are frustrated that there's no end in sight on this contract."
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