Working 99 Agreement
From someone who was there (this is his opinion on the FOP, but it follows the history we've been told from old timers and family):
- CPD History: the CPD Wives Association marched on city hall several times in 1969 for 2-man cars in all Districts. The wives and kids carried signs such as "Mayor Daley, protect my Daddy while he protects you." This was in response to the Black Panthers’ “kill a pig a month” police murders in Chicago.
After a PO was assassinated, in uniform, in his one man car, while writing a report on the south side, the mayor, Rich J, caved in. The city wrote a letter to the Wives Association saying all units would be 2 man from dusk till dawn. The primary police club at the time was COP, Confederation of Police. FOP was an Area Four Det’s social (drinking) club at the time. FOP won the vote in 1979 and we got our first contract in the summer of 1980 from Mayor Jane B. FOP has never had a letter addressing 1or 2 man cars.
As an added note, of the police clubs wanting to represent us (COP, Combined Counties, Teamsters, Local 1975), the FOP was considered the most docile, most easily controlled by the city and least wanted by police officers. The vote came after the Firefighters strike. It was widely speculated that the city rigged the election because no one outside Area Four had ever heard of FOP and no District Officer citywide admitted to voting for FOP. Yes, Mayor Jane B did like the police, but she was smart enough to ensure the new police union would be weak.
Retired LT & former Cadet.
Be safe out there, because working one-man on first and third watch is becoming more and more common.
Labels: from the comments
posted by SCC at 12:30 AM
64 Comments:
Officer KENNETH G. KANER, 7th Dist.
End of Watch: June 19, 1970
I remember the Confederation of Police very well back in the 60's. My brother was the vice president at the time. If there was such a thing as a radical, proactive, and demonstrative police group they were it.
It seems as if the past five years or so we have been under attack from all sides. I think the under staffing of the department and the mediocre contract just pushed this over the edge.
I don't know about trying to decertify the FOP but I am all for starting the Confederation of Police up again made up of real police officer that have absolutely fucking had it with this situation in this city.
I/F A1
Thanks, Lt.
So basically, our families gotta get out there. I think it's a great idea.
We can march in honor of PO Richard Francis. We don't need a PO Richard Francis repeat.
I work days so I'm 99 all the time, but I'll get out there with my family and march.
This is a matter of life and death.
God Bless CFD The Firefighters who Struck in 1979, B.O.B. Brotherhood Of the Barrel, without their sacrafice whe would have nothing today on the CPD.
Are you saying that ordered to work 99 overnight, you must comply?
I'm sure that is the mayors' plan so he can cut down the manpower even further.
In terms of OFFICER SAFETY, there has never been a more appropriate time to DEMAND to work a TWO man car!
REMEMBER!!! The Mayor doesn't worry about his safety. He's surrounded by his security detail.
He also doesn't care about YOUR safety. Only YOU can do that.
DEMAND to work TWO MAN. Just because Daley and Weis are hellbent on dismantling the Dept as we know it does not mean you should help!
As someone who voted on that first contract way back then I remember that all of the "organizations" came to us and made their pitch.
This included one SCC missed on the list, it was called the United Paperworkers or something like that. There was also a NO UNION option which was "officially" the prefference of the city. Jane Byrne promised us the ability to get a union and she carried through with it.
I do not believe the election was rigged by the city, but there were some things I can recall that did weigh heavy on our minds.
One of them was that the Teamsters were still healily tanted by organized crime and when their reps opens up at meetings for questions someone always asked, "Where's Jimmy Hoffa?"
The other thing was the FOP had written contracts for police in some other big cities at the time.
It was also thought that eventually that non-exempt supervisory officers would be representated by FOP like the IAFF represents all CFD personnel up to the rank of Battalion chief.
God Bless Jane Byrne, she was great for us. Richie and the firefighters strike screwed her.
As I said, I do no think city rigged the election, the FOP may be another matter.
There is a reason certain assignments are designated as two man jobs: TO SAVE YOUR LIFE. PERIOD. To all the gung ho rangers out there who say, "squad, ill call if i need help," you are doing nobody any favors except daley himself. you are telling daley we don't need extra police on the street. you are making bosses look good because while you are doing jobs yourself, it makes the w/c and district commander down more beat cars. next time tell the dispatcher to send your backup. if none is available, tell the dispatcher you will wait. this does not make you a coward: it makes you sound smart, may save your life, and it helps fight the system that thinks your life is worth only a two percent raise. let the citizen die before your family has to live on without you. when enough of the citizens die, they will hire more police and pay them their worth.
It was 1970 and the wives in Englewood were walking with their children in baby strollers and preventing the squad cars form leaving the parking lot. The 007th District Commander got his picture on the front page of the times, pushing one of the wives and he was GONE.
This is true. I was hired in 73(now retired Thank You God) There was a class a month in order to man all units as a deuce. Of course this hiring came to an end when a Federal lawsuit was brought by the then minoritys of the city.
Many officers voted against the other union since it was affiliated with the teamsters. They didn't want a union that everyone knew to be openly associated with organized crime.
I work 99 on midnights almost every shift. We are so shorthanded. This is how I deal with it. No patrol of any kind. It just isnt worth the trouble that can come with patrolling by yourself. I go to the hole and wait for a job. When I get a job and the assist car isnt there yet I'll park down the block and wait till I see him. The key is to find a good spot to hide. Luckily in our district we have a few of these where nobody can bother you.
Old Retired Guy Here: I got up this morning, and turned on the computer.
I read the first three comments on the blog. I have to agree with every comment. True reflections, and history of the CPD. This site provides a service to all.
PS: Have a nice day.
YOU LEFT OUT CHICAGO PATROLMENS ASSOCIATION.....JOE PECORARO THEIR PRES IN THOSE YEARS DEFIED THE CITY ALONG WITH THE COP, WITH CALLS FOR TICKET BLITZES AND TICKET SLOWDOWNS, MARCHES AROUND CITY HALL...
HE EVEN STOOD IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN 1974 ASKING FOR BULLET PROOF VESTS, EVEN WEARING ONE FOR THE ALDERTHINGS, SOME COULD BE SEEN GIGGLING....HE PUT IT ON THEM TO PROVIDE THIS SAFETY FOR PO'S, AFTER EARLY 70'S YEARS OF 13 11 12 9 PO'S KILLED.
WHEN MAYOR BYRNE GOT TOGETHER WITH THE LOOP BUSINESS ASSN TO FUND THE COST OF THE VESTS ( AFTER FAHEY & O'BRIEN WERE KILLED ) JOE PEC TOLD THE ALDERTHINGS THAT THE PO'S KILLED FROM 1974 UNTIL 1982 WAS NOW TRULY ON THEM AND THEIR FAILURE TO ACT ON THIS
I KNOW ....I WAS THERE
When the mob,uh I mean Teamsters,took over representing the CCDOC correctional cfficers in the early 80's, changes were made to benefit the officers.Including wages. I'm just saying.
SCC, I hope you're keeping a notebook and planning to write a book. When you retire, publish that motherfucker.
---not a cop
True in part. The FOP was primarily formed of Dets and Y.O,;s (Youth Officers for you youngsters). They and many house cats voted FOP, while the vote from the districts and other uniforms split amongst the others, including the Management (citys preference), which was No Single Representative. Which would have meant essentially no union.
This is BS....I was there too and this crap is just that, CRAP.
Some people just have too much time on their hands.
Every interested party involved in that election had people assigned to all the collecting and counting of votes.
There was very little chance of anyone manipulating the election as this goof implies.
I suggest to this blogger to either take his medication as prescribed or double the dosage until he can see his Doctor again.
Thank you for that insight and for renewing my memory!
One more thing, as far as Mayor Jane Byrne....a statue should be placed outside the Union Hall dedicated to the only true Mayor of this Great City, that really had the interest of the Police Department at heart.
To think thast she would be part of some "conspiracy" to rig the election is insane.
This woman bled blue.
Thank You Mayor Jane Byrne.
Can we please get a response from retired lieutenant Lou Schoenfeld on this one? Sorry if your name is mispelled, Lou!
It appears that the wives and kids need to put on their marching shoes and start working on those signs!!
Another Ol'vet's recollection...
The former Lt. may be correct, but my recollection of when the 1st & 3rd watches steadily went to 10-4 cars was a bit later.
It was after we lost another brother in the line of duty. His name was Robert Wenzel. At that time Traffic worked out of each Area.
Bob was working(then)Area6 Traffic along LSD.
He made a traffic stop on LSD between North Ave. & Fullerton on 19 Jan 1973, where he was gunned down, working 10-99. He was able to shoot one of the offenders, a Richard Luckey and the other guy was never found. Luckey, a paraplegic from Wenzels return fire STILL comes up for parole release hearings despite the fact that he was sentenced to 75-100 years in prison. (OT but another reason why we should keep attending these cop-killer parole hearings)
While we lost(too)many of our members working 1099 (i.e. Leroy Berry, Ken Kaner, Jim Alfano, to name just a few) 'just prior' to the Wenzel incident, my (feeble) recollection was that the 1973 (Wenzel) incident was the time the mandatory 10-4 cars were first enforced.
Again, just my 2 cents worth.
Stay safe, remember our fallen.
O'V(r)
Divide and conquer, we need to stick with our brothers on CFD. Don't let shortshanks tell us we got a bad deal. He just wants us to fight each other to include the FOP. If we want to vote out the current FOP, we will do it when election come up. I hate to say this, but we did ok in this economy. Fuck Richey and J-Fled, together we stand!
I totally agree that all cars should be 10-4. But, if you demand a partner every shift, don't be one of those officers that nobody wants to work with. Making you 10-4 should not equal punishment for your partner. Our watch has 3 people who don't want to work alone. NOBODY wants to work with them and they don't want to work with each other. C'mon.
First off the Police didn't get a union until Jan 1982. We voted in 1981 and there were three choices. One was the Teamster's,two was the FOP and the third was no union. Prior to the union you could refuse to work one man when it was dark. In fact alot of commander's wouldn't let you go out alone even if you wanted to unless you signed a waiver stating that you requested to work alone. I don't know where you got the info for the original post but it is somewhat inacurate.
I too am one of those "Old Timers" and the Post is absolutely correct.
At the time I supported The Paper Hangers Union, and the FOP was absolutely considered an Irish Detective Drinking Club, not to be taken seriously. Also note back then Detectives could be reduced back to P.O. on a whim. Their stars did not say "Detective", they carried regular P.O. stars like everyone else. And I too believe the election was rigged. Now when you say something like that, people think you're crazy, and a Conspiracy Nut; then again I was a Sgt. when Exam-Scam took place and people were saying it was impossible to rig a Lieutenants Exam. Well we all know now that they could and they did. "Notify the Watch Commander", the Insiders Phrase that was not in the General Orders, but made the difference between passing or failing.
If the City was interested in rigging the election to subvert a police bargaining unit movement, why didn't the City steal it in favor of the no union option and put the issue to bed for another generation?
>>>Anonymous said...
It appears that the wives and kids need to put on their marching shoes and start working on those signs!!
4/18/2010 09:30:00 AM<<<
Those wives and kids AND US need to put on our marching shoes and go door to door in our neighborhoods and get people to vote!
Stay safe, Register talk to your neighbors and Vote!
There is no General Order or contract provision saying cars must be 2 man on 3rd or 1st Watch, that is just an old wives tale that wont die. The fact is however most Watch Commanders, and I am one, will go out of our way to avoid ever putting a car up 99.
The problem is this: w/c are allowing 99 cars because they don't want to deny anyone time due---Now I understand w/c want to be nice guys but officer safety is paramount!! All w/c's should be told not to allow 99 cars --- If you want time off for a big event put a personal day in--- If your out of personal's --I'm sorry--Would you rather be going to a funeral of one of your brothers in blue because you wanted off for a birthday party---Come on people--even private industry only allows so many people off at one time because they know they need to run their business!! W/C's are you paying attention to this---Do you want the blood of some officer on your conscience because perhaps if they weren't 99 they may not be dead--Remember PO. Francis God Bless His Soul!
Anonymous said...
True in part. The FOP was primarily formed of Dets and Y.O,;s (Youth Officers for you youngsters). They and many house cats voted FOP, while the vote from the districts and other uniforms split amongst the others, including the Management (citys preference), which was No Single Representative. Which would have meant essentially no union.
4/18/2010 09:12:00 AM
That's the way I remember it too.
Yhe commander in 007 at the time, I believe, was Watson. He was black and one great guy. He was just doing what he was told by city hall about one man cars, not because he wanted to. The wives layed down on the two driveways and refused to let the cars pull out. He gave in. He was not demoted because of this and did not push a wife. He ended up in 010 and then retired to his mansion in Puerto Rico.
God Bless CFD The Firefighters who Struck in 1979, B.O.B. Brotherhood Of the Barrel, without their sacrafice whe would have nothing today on the CPD.
Thanks for the recognition,and the strike was Feb. 14, 1980; Janie was so scared she jumped at the opportunity to give CPD a contract. We celebrated our 30yr Anniversary of the Strike this past Feb. and the strength of the B.O.B lives on. The CPD needs to hang TOGETHER and stay tough.
There's a good and bad sides about working 10-99. If you have a regular partner then it works out perfectly for you and consider yourself VERY lucky. On the other side, working 10-4 unit with some psycho and no clue how to be a Police is sometimes UNSAFE.
I always felt my fathers murder meant something. I believed his murder directly caused a change. Boy, was I wrong. I learned this years ago. My fathers death meant nothing. He died in vain. This city didn't deserve him.
" Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it"
Edmund Burke
Unfortunately, I believe they are aware of history which makes it worse. Your life real doesn't matter to the city.
Don't let them fool you with bullshit statistics. They claim more officers are killed 10-4 then 10-99. That's probably because 10-4units respond to more hot calls, so they put themselves at risk more times. It's just common sense two sets of eyes are better then one and so on.
This city dishonors my fathers sacrifice through it's actions.
Officer Francis' murder proves this. YOU HONOR THE SLAIN BY DOING EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN!!!! It's that fucking simple. You don't honor the fallen in some bullshit speech. Take your insincere speeches and shove them up your ass.
Those who truly honor my father and other fallen are people like John Northen. They remember my father and talk kindly of him. Through people like him my fathers memory and sacrifice doesn't die. My family appreciates it very much.
One other very important issue.
My fathers killers have all been released except for the shooter, Bruce Sharp. He has come up for parole since the early 80's. There are approximately a dozen convicted Chicago Cop killers that come up for parole. Two have been released in the last decade. Officer Stugala's and Officer Tucker's killers have been released. This is a travesty of justice. Please get invovled in the process. It truely makes a difference.
Whether you liked Cline or not he is the ONLY boss that has actively brought buses to Springfield to show up during the Prisoner Review Process. My family and others thank him for his efforts. You can go on the memorial web site and find info on the next hearing.
My fathers killer will only die in prison if he dies before his mandatory release date of 2025. Tell my family that's justice.
Sincerely, Kurt Kaner
So is it in any kind of contract or legal agreement that all units must be 10-4 from dusk until dawn? If it isn't and someone refuses to work 99, what ramifications could there be against the officer?
We have so much power. If only we could ALL agree to stop writing tickets. If only we could ALL agree not to work 99. We could bring this city to it's knees. If only we could ALL stick together. Even if just long enough to send a message.
A lot of us just want to be the Police. Maybe some day we can again. However, we need to unite and take care of a few problems first. Otherwise, we'll never be the real police again.
This is so true. As a dispatcher it's a shame to see so many 99 units on our screens with so many jobs on the board requiring 10-4 units. This often times requires us as dispatchers to throw the whole "beat integrity" thing out the door when giving jobs out.
remember in 2011 not to split the vote
everyone must vote out the democratic machine
I really like working 99. It represents freedom to me.
Dont go jumping into shit until the appropriate amount of back up arrives. Too fucking bad.
I once called the FLOP regarding this issue and I was told that there is nothing in our contract that requires management to deploy all units 10-4. So in other words we can not refuse to work 10-99. But there are other things we can do if scheduled to work 10-99. Don't make any street or traffic stops. Ask for back up for every assignment. And collect on the 1st and the 16th.
Remember only a fool is afraid of no one. Wait for back up and stay safe.
about 2 years ago my partner and I were split up and forced to work two 99 cars (again with the perception bullshit). At around 2230 hrs, my partner was responding to a disturbance when he was attacked by a drunken high as a kite worthless animal. My partner received 20 stitches and several broken ribs as a result. While my partner was in the CAT scan machine, I called the FOP emergency # and spoke with Greg B. I told GB I was filing a safety grievance and I needed to know what to do (i.e., how to word it, which article of the contract to site etc etc). I was told eventhough there is a rule about not working 99 during certain hours, the city and the lodge have a "gentlemans agreement" not to grieve it, or else the city would start having to restrict time due in order to comply with the rule. So there you go...the Flop sells us out again...Why dont these idiots start going to the media with everything? Hire a fucking PR guy to spin everything in an educated way (not the bella.donahue dems, deese and doose and mayor daley is the devil super fan bullshit) and get the public on our side again! Make the non hiring of police a central concern each and every day! It really is not that hard, but makes you think just where is the fop's interest at the end of the day? really, where is it?
>>>
staysafe said...
One more thing, as far as Mayor Jane Byrne....a statue should be placed outside the Union Hall dedicated to the only true Mayor of this Great City, that really had the interest of the Police Department at heart.
To think that she would be part of some "conspiracy" to rig the election is insane.
This woman bled blue. Thank You Mayor Jane
4/18/2010 09:24:00 AM<<<
Amen to that. In fact let's defeat Shortshanks and Donahue at the polls then rename Millennium Park for her that will really frost the Evil Little Man.
One of the reasons she was so good to us she is the widow of a man in uniform. Her maiden name was Burke, (no relation to Ed), and was the wife of a Marine Corps Pilot. One day he goes off to work and may he Rest in Peace dies in a crash. So she knows that sense of losing someone who took an oath to serve and protect. There were ups and downs but she loved and took care of us.
Remember what Shorty did to her, and us!
Stay safe, Semper Fi Jane, We Do Miss You.
Given some of the areas you guys and gals have to patrol, only one to a car is suicide.
Just out of curiosity, what does the city pay out to your survivor if something really bad and permanent happens?
KURT KANER at 12:10 PM
Your Daddy is very PROUD of you, Kurt. God bless both of you.
This is so true. As a dispatcher it's a shame to see so many 99 units on our screens with so many jobs on the board requiring 10-4 units. This often times requires us as dispatchers to throw the whole "beat integrity" thing out the door when giving jobs out.
4/18/2010 01:03:00 PM
We Know. Signed, Residents of Bt 2211
Anonymous Anonymous said...
The problem is this: w/c are allowing 99 cars because they don't want to deny anyone time due---Now I understand w/c want to be nice guys but officer safety is paramount!!.....
I agree. As a Lt. working as W/C, I Preach Officer Safety at EVERY Roll Call. If I have to deny you time off I'm a jag-off. Primary Beats need to be manned. Oh Well.
Some PO's don't mind working 99,I don't force it, and make the watch aware of who is 99. Be that as it may, I don't think that I have denied anyone time due anytime other than the regular bullshit days that no one can get it.
A couple on the front or end works.
Signed,
Not a Company Man.
God Bless CFD The Firefighters who Struck in 1979, B.O.B. Brotherhood Of the Barrel
Valentines Day 1980-I was there.
The problem is this: w/c are allowing 99 cars because they don't want to deny anyone time due---Now I understand w/c want to be nice guys but officer safety is paramount!!
As I understand it PO's can switch days off with other PO's to be off for an important family event etc..
White Shirts have to submit their requests for time, now 2 Periods in advance. Forget about calling in an hour in advance (PO's) and asking for the day. Take the $ and the rank and stick it...WTF do I know is going to be going on 2 months from now?
Be Safe and Smart All.
Kurt Kaner, Well said.
My sympathies to you, because we all know a loss like yours doesn't happen just once; it happens over and over again for you every time there's a news report of an officer shot, officers injured in a crash, officer taken to hospital with injuries yet unknown...
Thank you.
History Lesson Part II. I wrote the original post to this thread. SSC, I am flattered you made my post a thread. I need to make the following clarifications.
#1. I am deeply sorry for not remembering the name of the assassinated officer, PO KANER. So many years, too many departed officers
#2. I did omit the CPA, Chicago Patrolman’s Association. I apologize to Joe Pecoraro, recently deceased, and his family. His son, Tony, was a fellow Cadet, PO, and now retired for several years. The CPA was/is the oldest police club in Chicago. CPA was very active and was a true labor organization but not affiliated with a “union.” I apologize for the oversight.
#3. Local 1975 was a part of a recognized union, the paperhangers union. Paperhangers are wallpaper installers, as in construction. Local 1975 was very militant. I was a member. We were a split from COP, who we thought was not militant enough, despite COP sanctioned ticket blitzes, police slowdowns and winning groundbreaking lawsuits against the city. Local 1975 was affiliated with a real union that did not have the stigma of the Teamsters.
#4. I said, “It was widely speculated the city rigged the election” in favor of FOP. It was speculation. I cannot prove it. How often do we speculate on this blog and know we are right? However, FOP was totally unknown to the vast majority of the Chicago Police before the election, regardless of what the FOP national obtained elsewhere. I maintain they were an A4 Det and Youth Officer social (drinking) club, not a labor organization. Yes, the number of clubs on the ballot could have divided the vote allowing FOP to win. Yes, there were election “poll watchers” from each club. Why wouldn’t the city just rig the election for a “no union” vote? Despite the city sending police gold stars to roll call every other day to campaign for a “no union” vote (today, when a gold star shows up at RC do you buy their BS; neither did we) the city knew a no union vote would NOT be accepted/believed by the officers. If the election resulted in a no union vote there would have been a strike: blue flu citywide. Remember, this vote was after the firefighters’ strike. I stand by the conspiracy theorist who believe FOP “the most docile, most easily controlled by the city and least wanted by police officers” was chosen by the city to represent CPD below the rank of SGT.
#5 Dear Staysafe, thank you for your concern for my health and medicines. If you think an election could not be rigged in this city please review the 1960 presidential election where Kennedy defeated Nixon in Chicago. A CPD election would be no problem for Jane.
#6 I do agree with your opinion that Jane was the best Chicago mayor in my lifetime, but I maintain she was smart enough to know a “no police union” vote would not have been believed or accepted and would incite a major police labor action, maybe including other unions, like the Teamsters. So she allowed “the most docile, most easily controlled by the city and least wanted by police officers” club to become our representative. She would not duplicate the Firefighter’s fiasco.
#7. “To think that she (Mayor Jane) would be part of some "conspiracy" to rig the election is insane. This woman bled blue.” Not true. Jane was a politician; she came up through old man Daley’s organization. She did what was good for her, like move into “the Green” that lasted a month or so. Jane may have liked the police but she would not stick her political neck out for us. Actually, we failed her. When Harold ran against her, Daley split the vote. Did CPD rally for Jane? No. We split. Daley waited, Harold won, Jane was left out.
#8 Thank you 4/18/2010/ 1040am I too was shot down on the “Exam-scam, Notify the WC” rigged LT test. I was very, very lucky two tests later.
Retired LT and former Cadet.
not that 016 is terribly busy on a sunday; but apprx 12 cars are 99. good thing i have guns to protect my family and property.
WE NEED THE CPA TODAY NOW!!
I recall the Fire Department taking great joy in supporting RMD in 1983 and rejoicing in the defeat of Jame Byrne.
>>>
So she allowed “the most docile, most easily controlled by the city and least wanted by police officers” club to become our representative. She would not duplicate the Firefighter’s fiasco. <<<
BULLSHIT! FOP won the frigging election. I'm sorry they did but that's what happened.
>>>This woman bled blue.” Not true. Jane was a politician; she came up through old man Daley’s organization. She did what was good for her, like move into “the Green” that lasted a month or so. Jane may have liked the police but she would not stick her political neck out for us. Actually, we failed her.<<<
As a Beat Cop in Cabrini at that time that lasted more than a month, (1160 N. Sedgwick, 4th Floor northwest corner). She turned us loose with Joe Mccarthy and got the garbage picked up, the elevatorrs running, the plumbing and electrical fixed, the squatters out.
She was a politician, soooo you point is?
There was a lot of other things she did for cops and their families, especially the one who were injured or killed in the line of duty.
Did we fail her? Yes!
We have failed every election since. Let's not fail the next one.
...Some PO's don't mind working 99,I don't force it, and make the watch aware of who is 99. Be that as it may, I don't think that I have denied anyone time due anytime other than the regular bullshit days that no one can get it.
A couple on the front or end works.
Signed,
Not a Company Man.
4/18/2010 07:33:00 PM...
I am also a WC, an old one at that, not a company man and KMA. I might have written this. I work with excellant people who look after each and no one goes anywhere alone. I have seen much better days on this Department, and God willing we will see better days again.
Stay safe and everybody goes home.
If Jane Bryne was so loved by Whites, why didn't they re-elect her mayor in 1987 (Washington) and 1991 (Daley II)?
As a native northwest sider, I remember some/most(?) Whites not voting in 1987 and
"overwhelming" supporting Daley II in 1991.
Reading this makes a person feel old.
Commenting on History Lesson.
Everyone's opinion mirrors their recollection of the times. I agree with History Lesson for the first two paragraphs. 007 was a COP district, but the one president resigned and left the job(not retired) for private industry, his successor resigned after being involved in a scandal, CPA was out of touch and had a small membership(Traffic, 001, etc), the Paperworkers, Local 1975 were not law enforcement, only looking to expand, Combined Counties had no credibility, Teamsters-see Combined Counties times 10. That left FOP, the only "club" that was part of a national police organization,and a real union out east in Pennsylvania. To say no one ever heard of FOP before was not true. Most of them were $1 a month to be a member and each gave you a nominal insurance policy to join.A lot of multiple members. Each of the above came to rollcalls to make their pitch.Some of the above were for strike clauses, that was part of the problem. Byrne was a politician, the CFD went out on strike, 1980 with "Moon" Muscare, she warmed to the CPD afterwards, not wanting a repeat. She was more genuine,more than this guy ever could be. 1)Someone asked why she lost, she was the incumbent, Daley was the States Attorney, first said he would serve a full term(lie)but ran as an independent, Byrne had about 34%,Daley 29%, Washington 36%. You figure out the rest.1st Contract was later than 1980, maybe 1982. 2) The supervisors were supposed to be in FOP, Lodge 7A, the National President from New Mexico deferred to Nolan II, who nixed it(1993-95). D-3,4,5 didn't get the OK to organize until then.3) Watson didn't get dumped for that, he left 007 in 1974, went to 010 as a WC. Once, a WC ordered the 3rd watch upstairs in the courtroom, berating us as cowards for not going out 99, it was Ken Kaner's assassination that was part of the reason why no one caved in.
I'm not here for FOP or Byrne, but for that time,it worked. Improve on it! I'm not saying History Lesson is wrong, but like seats at the ball park,your view depends on where you are sitting at the time. These dark days of the CPD will pass, until then hold that line and be safe!
Ret. Sgt
Kurt,
Your dad's halo glows ever brighter, if that's even possible.
Nicely said.
o'v(r)
I can't believe all this love for Jane Byrne. Erect a statue in her honor outside the union hall? Are you friggin nuts?
She pulled out on her campaign promise to give the firemen a contract in 1979/80 and they struck. Said the late Local 2 Prez Frank Moon Muscare before authorizing the CFD strike vote: "No more handshakes, baby."
The firemen struck, Muscare went to jail, and that two-faced bitch let the then 2nd largest city in America go without fire protection for 23 days. More than 20 civilians, including children, died in fires during that period. It was winter and cold and the potential for fires was high. Policemen under orders were in essence crossing pickets to help scabs put out fires. And that bitch, living in her safe Gold Coast high-rise, let it drag on for over three weeks, trying to bust the fire union.
The job was never the same afterward. Animosities still exist. And the CFD Local 2 has since nearly lost or given up everything they gained in that first contract that cost so much.
In the strike aftermath she fired her fire commish, Rich Albrecht, a career firefighter from a long-line of CFD, and appointed Bill Blair, an outsider from LAFD, to be her hammer as new commish. He was to CFD what J-Fed is now to the CPD, a clueless goof who instituted Department shakups and reorganizations.
If you build a statue to Byrne, make sure it's in an open place where the birds can freely shit on it.
Ya know...
To 4/19/2010 10:08:00*********************************** I assume that you are a fireman. I also assume that you didn't have a side job to go to today, hence you had the time to read and post here! You can bitch all you want about Jane Byrne and your working conditions, however when you get to.... and I quote you:
"More than 20 civilians, including children, died in fires during that period."
THAT BLOOD IS ON YOU AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BARREL MY FRIEND, NOT ON JANE BYRNE!
YOU TOOK AN OATH! YOU VIOLATED THE OATH! END OF ARGUMENT!
Your "poor working man" argument would seem a little more credible if you guys weren't taking union jobs from plumbers, painters and carpenters on your "daley" days!
Thanks, Jane, for writing on this thread. Actually my side job is as a barrista at Starbucks.
Yes, Jane Bryne was a politician. She learned well from old man Daley while working 4 him, but she truely loved the police. She gave police widows jobs and drank with them. She thought the fireman were lazy. She knew of how good they had it in those fire houses back in the day. Imagine us hitting the picket line and refusing 2 work. It might sound good, but that would destroy anything we ever fought or stood 4.
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