| (09/25/09) - No Akron police officers will be
laid off through the end of this year, if members of the Akron Fraternal Order of Police
ratify an agreement that was reached following day-long negotiations with the City today. “Police have agreed to make the kinds of sacrifices that others
throughout our community have already made and have done what is sufficient to save fellow
officers’ jobs,” said Plusquellic.
Police join three other union groups in reaching such
agreements to help solve the City’s budget deficit and reduce or eliminate employee
layoffs.
More than 120 City employees have taken voluntary buyouts,
and other non-safety force workers have been laid off. Meanwhile, 96 police
employees received layoff notices. But, with tonight’s news of an agreement, none of
the 96 will be out of work through the end of 2009.
“Our police have stepped up and have done what was
necessary to save jobs within the department while reducing the City’s budget
deficit,” said the Mayor. “We can get through this difficult time as long as we
share the sacrifices that have to be made. And that is exactly what we’re seeing
happen.”
The unions have until the end of the month to ratify new
agreements with the city to stave off forced job cuts.
END |
