Though four police unions have negotiated new contracts with the city, Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association Patrick Lynch does not seem to be interested in working with the Mayor De Blasio’s administration, Capital reports.
This comes as no surprise, as Lynch has had a strained relationship with de Blasio, to say the least. One of the major rifts was caused when Lynch accused the Administration have having blood on its hands following a fatal attack on two NYPD officers in December.
Lynch, who is up for reelection in June, may be able to “get a preferable deal in binding arbitration,” Capital explains — a risky move he’s pulled in before. On his campaign site, “Team Lynch,” he says that he increased the wages of police officers by 56% in 10 years, due to arbitrations with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB).
Lynch did break the pattern of raises during the 2000-2002 bargaining session. He received 5% increases over 24 months, compared to the 30-month span other unions received for the same increase percentage. He did this again for the 2002-2004 session, yet he lowered the starting salary for rank-to-file members to $25,100. Thanks to Lynch, rookie police officers started at $25,000 salaries.
Following criticism from other union leaders, he later agreed to increase the starting salary, but gave up other benefits. The union currently has been working under an expired contract he made with the Bloomberg administration that gave his members 4 percent raises each year.
Lynch is insistent on not working with the City even though fellow de Blasio critic, Ed Mullins of the S.B.A, dropped his feud with to work out contracts. Lynch has not publicly indicated that he is ready to work with de Blasio even though the Mayor has publicly stated he “welcomes further dialogue.” Instead, he boasts a history salary raises—despite the reduced pay and benefits he compromised.
(Photo: BK Reader)
