Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- The city and its police union announced an arbitration decision Monday morning that could save the city about $556,000 this year and $890,000 next year, representatives for the city and the police union said.

Both sides said they got something out of the decision, which imposes contract terms through the 2009-10 fiscal year. The city won a $25 per-person, per- week copayment for health insurance premiums and exemptions from the contract's "minimum manning" provisions.

The decision allows the city to leave 13 positions vacant in 2008-09 and up to 10 vacant in 2009-10. Because of a spate of retirements in recent months, the department has been 13 short of its usual 101-member level.

The minimum manning exemption is important because it means the department can run short-staffed and not have to pay overtime. Chief Thomas S. Carey said in a normal year, the contract calls for 17 people on the day shift, 18 on the night shift, and 16 on the third shift. With the minimum manning exemption, he said he will probably run about three people short on each of those shifts.

The union won a 3 percent pay raise retroactive to July 1, 2007, and guarantees of no layoffs through the 2009-10 year. The decision also stipulated that minimum manning rules will go back into effect July 1, 2010.

Because the changes were the result of binding arbitration, they take effect immediately, without ratification by the City Council or the union membership.

"I wouldn't say we're happy with the decision, but we feel it is equally fair to both sides," union present John Scully said.

City Planning and development Director Joel Mathews said the city was pleased to get the health copay and the respite from minimum manning, but said the job security provisions would help the department too.

"They've been walking on eggshells," Mathews said. "Now they know there will be a police department. It buys them peace of mind, if nothing else."

 Tags  economy Woonsocket RI

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