Valley unions pay police millions to lobby while removing officers from duty
Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper is expected to issue an opinion late next week regarding whether the city of Phoenix should temporarily suspend the practice of funding “release time” for police officers to conduct union business. Phoenix and other Arizona cities spend millions of dollars every year to pay employees to perform union work on city time. The case is Cheatham and Marcus Huey v. City of Phoenix.
The request for a preliminary injunction is part of a lawsuit brought by the Goldwater Institute (GI) against the city of Phoenix and the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association union (PLEA). Goldwater attorney Clint Bolick’s take on the unsavory and costly practice can be read here.
The GI case challenges the city’s contract with the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, which provides an estimated $900,000 in annual release time for police union work, including lobbying. The provisions take six full-time officers off the streets — giving them full pay, benefits, and overtime for union work — in addition to providing thousands of additional release-time hours for the union to dole out at its discretion. Altogether, more than 40 police officers can be released from some or all of their law-enforcement duties by the union.
The Goldwater Institute contends that beyond endangering public safety, the release time is an unconstitutional subsidy, violating the gift clause of the Arizona Constitution by using taxpayer money to fund salaries of union and labor association leaders who represent city employees. Goldwater filed the complaint in December 2011.
During the hearing Friday, Bolick pointed out that the city couldn’t quantify the direct benefits it receives for what it spends on release time for the officers who conduct union business. The gift clause requires the city to prove it receives direct, tangible benefits from money it gives to a private entity, he said. Bolick also said the city didn’t have a clear way of tracking how union officers spend their release time.
“The union has hijacked the city’s treasury to fulfill its responsibilities,” Bolick said.
Despite the pending lawsuit, earlier this month the Phoenix City Council approved a new two-year labor contract for PLEA. The contract, set to begin July 1, continues the indefensible “release time” practice.
Did you feel the pang of a sharp thumb in your eye from your council member? If not, it’s because the council aims to keep such information under wraps.
“Cheatum” should be the name of the City of Phoenix defendants in this case. Good for Goldwater for taking this on. We are all so geared to viewing police, firefighters and teachers in the best possible light and forget that they all belong to massive unions that stick it to the taxpayers at every possible turn. Although I respect the jobs they do, they are jobs they sought. My brother-in-law was a firefighter who applied numerous times before being hired. He started with the department in his early 20′s and retired in his 40′s! He was then able to start a new career doing what he and some buddies were already doing in their off hours. He worked 24 hours on and 48 off, did well enough to afford a cabin in Payson and send his kids to parochial school. He told me most of their calls were EMT not fire-related.
the unions called some author/lawyer from oregon, the phoenix asst. chief of police and the pres. of the union in phoenix they also had 4 more paid lawers from our tax money. Unions killed Detroit they will not kill Arizona.
The City of Phoenix isn’t the only government using taxpayer funds in an illegal way. The Central Arizona Project, CAP, gives six $1,000 college scholarships to the children and grandchildren of enployees with our money. They are also the only government I know of where the taxpayers get to contribute to two retirement systems. The employees belong to the Az State Retirement System, ASRS, and also have the government equivalent of a 401K. The employees can contribute up to 6% of their pay and the employer can contribute up to one half of that or 3% of the pay. The CAP share is now up to $951,000 a year and growing as the employees generally all receive pay increases each year, even in this economy. I am delighted they have a 401K, but I wish we didn’t have to fund both retirement systems.
Are you the same Jean McGrath who’s a rancher and has defended hiring illegals? Just curious.
City of Phoenix also pays 100% of employees 401k accounts that is beyond their city retirement plan – ask DeCiccio he has the goods on it.
If GI had the guts to support AZ taxpayers against the huge tax dollar drain caused by illegal aliens, I’d be one of their strongest supporters. Alas, they must have many Chamber donors that apparently hire illegals under the table, because they won’t touch the issue and then beat up our hero, Sheriff Joe, when he tries to stem the invasion. Racist? The Border Patrol reports there are folks from over 60 countries coming over our southern border, including countries on the watch list, like Iran and Syria. It isn’t racist to ask people to use the front door, legally.
Excellent points, well made, Annie!
We withdrew our support from the Goldwater Institute when Clint Bolick issued two scathing reports on Sheriff Arpaio. That was the last they saw of my wife and me AND our money.
We agree with this specific case, but let’s remember the Goldwater Institute is NOT a Republican organization. It is LIBERTARIAN. Jeff the Flake was the Executive Director of Goldwater. If he’s a Republican, I’ll eat my hat. He’s a true libertarian who knew he could never be elected under that banner so he registered and ran as a Republican. Ditto Ron Paul. Too many American voters are being duped by these open borders amnesty supporters who are “tolerant” of everything. Paul teamed up with leftie Barney Frank on legalization of ALL hallucinogenic drugs. How’s that for action from a medical doctor? What message does that send to our children?
In our family support for Sheriff Arpaio runs strong. He is a conservative Republican who we can actually depend on to do the right thing on behalf of Arizona’s citizens. Too many others are all tough talk preceding elections and fall back in with the liberals after election. John McCain and Jon Kyl are perfect examples.
This was Kyl before his last election. Immediately after, he and McCain worked together on an amnesty package!
You two, Annie O. and AZ Conservative, sure hit the nail on the head. Great reminders of the duplicity from our so-called Republicans Kyl, McCain and Flake. Interesting that the former two have endorsed the latter. What a surprise….not! I’m so tired of the garbage that we are supposed to accept hook, line and sinker from these two-faced consorters.
Check out sonorannews.com regarding additional info on this.
http://www.sonorannews.com/archives/2011/110928/fenger.html