FOP Journal Spring 2011 : Page 6

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE / CHUCK CANTERBURY The Right to Collectively Bargain // WRITE TO US! If you have further questions, contact Chuck Canterbury at fopchuck@aol.com. Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police National Headquarters 701 Marriott Drive Nashville, TN 37214 1-800-451-2711 Phone (615) 399-0900 Fax (615) 399-0400 E-mail: glfop@fop.net www.fop.net Executive Board he vilification of public unions has begun by many of our governors and been promulgated by the media and is the most far reaching attempt to blame public employees for bad management practices as I have seen in my many years as a public servant. Public employees teach our children, protect our homes, provide necessary health care and perform the many services that government provides. We are the backbone of America. The recent attempts to paint us as the bad guys has not been defended by the media, and due to high unemployment and the constant attack by government officials, many citizens are buying that the unions caused all of the problems associated with the economic crisis. Underfunding pensions, spending their rainy day funds and over-extending them-selves on projects that are fanciful but play no role in the first responsibility of govern-T is that the public sector was far behind the private unions in winning the right to col-lectively bargain. During these times, it is essential for our membership to remember and take note of all of the politicians we support. Make sure that you thank them when they support you and vote against them when they do not. The endorsement of candidates that do not vote to sustain our hard-earned rights is counterintuitive and we must not do so. Our lodges must grade their representatives and provide the membership with detailed reports on their activity. Remember that a vote to sustain your rights is worthy of sup-port and praise. A vote against your rights is worthy of supporting someone else. We cannot be partisan in our endorse-ments — we must only support candidates who will support our main issues and vote to preserve our pensions, health care and right to bargain. Chuck Canterbury President Myrtle Beach, SC 843-283-4888 Dave Hiller Vice President Grosse Pointe Park, MI Tom Penoza Treasurer New Castle, DE Tim Downs Sergeant-At-Arms Monticello, IN Patrick Yoes Secretary Norco, LA Frank Gale Second VP Denver, CO Joe Perkins National Trustees Chairman Owasso, OK Past Presidents Gilbert G. Gallegos , Albuquerque, NM Dewey R. Stokes , Columbus, OH Richard A. Boyd , Oklahoma City, OK Leo V. Marchetti , Pittsburgh, PA John M. Dineen , Chicago, IL National Trustees Oklahoma …………………………………… Joe Perkins, Chairman Alabama ……………………………………………………………… Al Finley Arizona …………………………………………………………… Bryan Soller Arkansas ……………………………………………………… Gary Wallace California ………………………………………………………… Steve James Colorado ……………………………………………… Chuck DeNovellis Connecticut ……………………………………………… Robert Martin Delaware ………………………………………………………… Brian Douty District Of Columbia …………………………………… Tim Finnegan Florida ………………………………………………………………Nelson Cuba Georgia …………………………………………………………… Bill Peacock Idaho ………………………………………………………………… Brad Landes Illinois …………………………………………Robert “Rocky” Nowaczyk Indiana …………………………………………………… Robert Imborek Kansas …………………………………………………………… Pete Fogarty Kentucky ……………………………………………………… Mike Hettich Louisiana ………………………………………………………… Willie Patin Maryland ……………………………………………………… Rick Fulginiti Massachusetts ………………………………………… Larry Crosman Michigan ……………………………………………………Kevin Sommers Minnesota ………………………………………………… Chuck Schauss Mississippi ………………………………………………… Charles Tillman Missouri ………………………………………………………… Bill Albertson Nebraska ………………………………………………… Steve Grabowski Nevada ………………………………………………………… Michael Cain New Jersey …………………………………………………………Ron Bakley New Mexico …………………………………………………… J. R. Stewart New York …………………………………………………………… Mike Nied North Carolina ……………………………………… Dennis McCrary North Dakota …………………………………………… Steven Kenner Ohio ……………………………………………………………… Chet DeLong Pennsylvania ……………………………………… Paul McCommons Rhode Island ……………………………………… Hugh Clements, Jr. South Carolina ……………………………………………… Jerry Wright South Dakota ………………………………………………Tony Harrison Tennessee ………………………………………………… Duane Phillips Texas …………………………………………………………………… Ken Starrs Utah …………………………………………………………… James Crowley Virginia …………………………………………………………Thomas Stiles Washington ……………………………………………… Jack Simington West Virginia ………………………………………… Herman Beckett Wisconsin …………………………………………………… Jerry Johnson Wyoming ……………………………………………………… Mike Burnett ... A GALLUP POLL SHOWS 61% OF AMERICANS STILL BE-LIEVE IN THE RIGHT FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES TO COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN. ment, state and local governments have spent their way to financial woes and are neglecting the safety of the people. If you only listen to the major news channels, you would think that Americans in general do not support public sector unions. You would not know about the release of a Gallup poll that shows 61% of Americans still believe in the right for public employ-ees to collectively bargain. This number is overwhelming since we are currently at an all-time low for private union membership. Public unions are the only sets of workers where union growth has been seen in the past few years. The major reason for this 6 Lodges will need to utilize the private partnerships they have formed with local civic organizations, other unions — more specifically, public safety unions — and your own voices. The message is simple: We are public safety officers and contrary to what the media reports, studies have shown that public employees face an annual compensation penalty of 11% com-pared to their private sector counterparts. The message must be about public safety and we must frame our arguments with the facts. Less of a police presence and fewer Continued on page 31 > FOP JOURNAL // APRIL 2011

President’s Message

The Right to Collectively Bargain WRITE TO US! If you have further questions, contact Chuck Canterbury at fopchuck@aol.com. The vilification of public unions has begun by many of our governors and been promulgated by the media and is the most far reaching attempt to blame public employees for bad management practices as I have seen in my many years as a public servant. Public employees teach our children, protect our homes, provide necessary health care and perform the many services that government provides. We are the backbone of America. The recent attempts to paint us as the bad guys has not been defended by the media, and due to high unemployment and the constant attack by government officials, many citizens are buying that the unions caused all of the problems associated with the economic crisis. Underfunding pensions, spending their rainy day funds and over-extending themselves on projects that are fanciful but play no role in the first responsibility of government,State and local governments have spent their way to financial woes and are neglecting the safety of the people. If you only listen to the major news channels, you would think that Americans in general do not support public sector unions. You would not know about the release of a Gallup poll that shows 61% of Americans still believe in the right for public employees to collectively bargain. This number is overwhelming since we are currently at an all-time low for private union membership.Public unions are the only sets of workers where union growth has been seen in the past few years. The major reason for this Is that the public sector was far behind the private unions in winning the right to collectively bargain. During these times, it is essential for our membership to remember and take note of all of the politicians we support. Make sure that you thank them when they support you and vote against them when they do not. The endorsement of candidates that do not vote to sustain our hard-earned rights is counterintuitive and we must not do so.Our lodges must grade their representatives and provide the membership with detailed reports on their activity. Remember that a vote to sustain your rights is worthy of support and praise. A vote against your rights is worthy of supporting someone else. We cannot be partisan in our endorsements — we must only support candidates who will support our main issues and vote to preserve our pensions, health care and right to bargain. Lodges will need to utilize the private partnerships they have formed with local civic organizations, other unions — more specifically, public safety unions — and your own voices. The message is simple: We are public safety officers and contrary to what the media reports, studies have shown that public employees face an annual compensation penalty of 11% compared to their private sector counterparts.The message must be about public safety and we must frame our arguments with the facts. Less of a police presence and fewer Fire fighters cannot and does not mean that there will be no reduction in the quality of service. In Camden, New Jersey, after laying off 44% of our brothers and sisters, one public official made a statement that police and fire response will not be affected.Please tell me how? These fights will be long and hard, and the National Fraternal Order of Police will continue to support our State Lodges and provide guidance and any other assistance we can. We will keep our website up-to-date on any and all information we have on this move to reduce government on the backs of public employees. We will continue to be vocal and provide true facts about law enforcement and our need to be able to collectively bargain.

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