Monroe layoffs spark protest

Published 1:06 pm Wednesday, September 8, 2010

MONROE – Around 30 Monroe police officers, firefighters and their families and friends picketed outside City Hall Tuesday night to protest possible layoffs expected to come next month.

With signs like “Support Our Cops” and “Criminals Love Layoffs,” the protesters waved at passing cars, which honked their horns in support.

Inside City Hall, the protesters got a different reception.

The City Council spent about two hours in an executive session discussing the proposals sent by the bargaining units of the Monroe Police Officers Guild, who represents all 25 police officers of the city, and of the city’s Teamsters Union, who represent 74 city employees in four different departments.

After the session, which was closed to the public, Mayor Robert Zimmerman spoke on behalf of the council that the city had not reached a deal with the unions.

“The City Council is deeply disappointed that the guild did not bring points to the board for the council consideration for 2011,” Zimmerman said.

That means the city will not rescind 10 layoff notices sent in July to city employees, including to three police officers.

The union brought the city a financial plan to save two of the three positions and they made concessions in their medical plan, said Spencer Robinson, president of the Monroe Police Officers Guild.

They also agreed not to receive any raises over the next two years.

“We have conceded above and beyond what the city asked,” he said.

At the end of the meeting, Zimmerman said the council is serious about saving jobs but the guild did not give any concessions in what they proposed to the council. The proposals by both unions only cover 30 percent of the roughly $750,000 projected budget deficit for next year, he added on Wednesday.

He did not give any details about the guild’s proposal.

Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com