Brothers and Sisters of Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 17...

June 12, 2010 Brothers and Sisters of Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 17: Late Friday afternoon, I received a phone call from the City Manager, Bruce Moore, who discussed his intentions to make an offer to the Little Rock FOP in exchange for the deferral of our 2010 cost of living increase that we voted on, as a body, in December 2009.  Today, Bruce Moore received information that an offer he made to the Little Rock Firefighters IAFF union will be published in Sunday’s Arkansas Democrat Gazette.  The FOP Executive Board wanted you to be informed that the offer that may appear in the paper on Sunday is similar to the offer that the Little Rock FOP union is expecting from the City.  We had been expecting this offer by the middle of the week last week, but we have been informed that a formal offer will not be received until Monday, June 14, 2010.  The Little Rock FOP Executive Board remains committed to the current contract discussions with the City and continued negotiations will be required.  Our major concern involves the fact that we have not received our final report from the accounting agency we hired to conduct a complete financial analysis of the City.  No decision can be made on a contract offer until we have reviewed all financial data compiled by the accounting agency and we have received their final report to the Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police. Continued efforts are also being made to remain in touch with both of the city’s other two unions.  Your executive board asks that everyone remain patient until such time that a solid offer from the City of Little Rock is on the table.  We would like to remind all members that if any changes are to occur to the current Statement of Agreement (2008-2011) it will require a vote of the entire LRFOP membership.   As a contingency plan, we have hired a reputable labor attorney who is in the process of drafting language in preparation for filing a lawsuit against the City on July 1, 2010, if we are unable to reach an equitable settlement with the City by that time. The Executive Board thanks you for your continued patience and we will keep you informed as this situation continues to develop.  Fraternally, John Gilchrist, President Little Rock FOP #17