Police Negotiations at Impasse

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Insurance proves to be sticking point
Reporter: WOWT

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Negotiations on a new police contract, between the City of Omaha and the police union, are at an impasse.

For years, police have enjoyed perks like free health care and the opportunity to spike their retirement pay. The sticking point now seems to be health care and neither side is ready to give in.

City officials say that they have made their best and final offer to Omaha's police union. As far as the city is concerned, the talking is over.

Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey says the city wants to put the negotiations in the hands of the state.

Fahey says, "Earlier, I presented the union with my final and best offer. Unfortunately the police union declined the offer and made counter-offers that are unacceptable to the city. As a result this matter will be taken to the Court of Industrial Relations."

The city offers a three-and-a-half percent wage increase over the next three years. It also wants to eliminate spiking -- a technique used to raise pension numbers. Police officers would also have to pay for some of their health care. Right now it's free. Fahey wants a five percent premium that amounts to $50 to $60 dollars per month, per family.

The mayor says, "We simply no longer can afford free health care and we must stop union pension spiking."

But representatives of the police union say there are still difficult and complicated issues on the table and they want to talk about them.

The police union's Aaron Hanson says, "We advised them that as far as we were concerned we're still engaged in negotiations. They're aware of that. Why they have declared an impasse at this point, you'll have to ask them."

It takes only one side to force an impasse. Fahey says the issue could take several months before a decision is reached by the Court of Industrial Relations.

A month ago, the fire union filed an impasse in its negotiations with the city. That contract is scheduled to go before the Court of Industrial Relations on July 14.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Jack on Apr 15, 2008 at 04:21 AM
Give me a break, I'm a volunteer firefighter. I don't get insurance, I don't get sick pay, I don't get vacation pay, I put my life on the line for free. I hang out at the station on my days off, FOR FREE. I spend hundreds of hours training a year , For Free. Why, I don't need a pay check for doing what is right, and I'm saving tax payers millions of dollars yearly. I do the same amount of work as the OFD if not more since I have to work a full-time job on the side to pay the bills, and you don't see me complaining . So give me a break with the we need more. I don't need jack, my only pay is the smiles on the people I help.

Posted by: LETS SEE on Apr 15, 2008 at 04:11 AM
Perception&Reality- So you work every third day. That must be ruff. That comes out to about 10 days a month . Which comes out to about 120 day out of 365. Man that seems like a cake job. That must be why every tom, dick, and sally come out to apply for OFD. Let me guess for the extra income you probably have some sort of part-time job . I'm gonna say between the two jobs you make awsome money, and still have lots of free time on your hands at home. Life of an omaha fireman must really blow. NOT! You can make it sound like your job sucks all you want, but not to me I know the truth.

Posted by: Gary on Apr 12, 2008 at 03:07 PM
At a time when there is a shortage of qualified police officer candidates and the departmnet is out recruiting against everyone else, is now the time to start cutting benefits? Omaha, you get what you pay for! 20 years ago OPD was one of the highest paid departments in the midwest. Now you can go to a lot of small suburban communities and make more or the same kind of money w/o dealing with all the political garbage, shootings (Von Maur, North "O" etc..etc..) and ungrateful citizens. If you were applying for a police position, would working for a department w/ old run down cruisers, a Mayor trying to make you look bad, and little respect from the public sound appealing? You guys need to get your priorities staright when it comes to public safety. That department is already running on fumes and barely duct taped together! Support your cops!

Posted by: Perception & Reality on Apr 12, 2008 at 02:37 PM
I don't know how you do your math "hey unoriginal cop" but I work 56 hours a week. If you do the math it works out to 2912 hours a year. (That's 7.9 hours every day) If you work 40 hours a week that's 2080 hours a year. I will spend 1/3 of my life for 25 or 30 years at a fire station and another few hours on my off days recovering from the lack of sleep (If I'm lucky and don't have to go to my other job). I know some of you are going to say that you work 80 hours a week and that you don't get any overtime and don't have any benefits and to that I'll have to say BS for the most part and also you picked the job and if you don't like it then come apply at the fire department because apparently we have it sooo easy. I wish we could let people come to a station and work a set, which is 9 days or 120 hours, just to see how easy it is. I'm afraid perception and reality don't always agree. I don't do this job for the money and if I did then I'm not too bright.

Posted by: The Original Cop on Apr 12, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Very good math Mr. Hey! I did make slightly less than that last year. Believe it or not I have rank in this department, and my earnings are from next to no overtime and are simply Base pay plus holidays, longevity pay, and college incentive pay. My promotions came before the mass exodus. As in any business, there may be some supervisors that we be better served elsewhere, but they studied, tested, interviewed etc. to get ranked on the list. The vast majority of command in this department is hard working and competent, and any areas that are lacking by some will quickly be picked up by others. As much as everybody hates to believe it, you (Omahans) have a very hard working professional police department. I understand people make less than us and pay more for health care and have less in retirement, but I'm not going to apologize for wanting the best negotiated pay and benefits for me and my family. The police union NEVER supported Fahey for mayor, so you can't say he owes us anything.

Posted by: You also chose on Apr 12, 2008 at 11:20 AM
C.S.- First of all quit screaming. Second of all, you and everyone else on here keeps complaining that you don't get sick pay, you don't get holiday pay, you don't get a pension, and you scream about how unfair it is. Then you turn around and tell police and fire to quit whining because they CHOSE their career. Well, I suppose you also CHOSE your career as well. You chose a career with no sick pay, holiday pay, or pension. You don't like it, then change your career, go to school, do something besides boo hooing and screaming about how you want what others have, and if you can't get it then you don't want them to have it either. You knew what the benefits were when you chose your career.

Posted by: hey unoriginal cop on Apr 12, 2008 at 12:17 AM
first off, if you paid 12500 into your pension system, then you're making roughly 85,000...thats a joke right? I hope you were only trying to impress me...and by the way I think the anonymous person was trying to tell you that your 12500 was taxpayer $ in the first place. I'm not blaming OPD or OFD (even though I believe OFD is a joke and they work like a third of the year), I fully blame FAHEY and the CITY COUNCIL for signing off on these just to gain your unions support! With that being said, I hope OPD and OFD realize that if something isnt fixed soon, you guys will be out of your pension w/ no social security. My last concern is the fact that OPD and OFD have lost so many great veterans to this joke of a pension, and now people are being promoted that have no business leading others (I'm sure you can attest to that). Faheys still mayor, so sit back and wait til OFD gets their contract, 2 months later you'll get yours! I'm still amazed at what OFD gets away with...work < half a year?

Posted by: anon on Apr 11, 2008 at 11:59 PM
C.S--that's good advice and boo hoo, and your CAPS LOCK is on

Posted by: dave utterback on Apr 11, 2008 at 09:14 PM
The u.s. is the only democratic country i know of that pays for medical for those who do not work, and those who are not legal immigrants. If 46% of the u.s. population cannot afford a doctor, and if u.s. workers, making even the medium income can't afford medical, then why is it we provide any medical for those who do not work or are not legally in the country. Workers with dependents in the middle income group, have their rates for appointment determined by income and thus cannot afford to have medical venders adjust the bills according to income. Basically all medical venders somehow charge according to those who can pay. If middle income americans did not have to absorb those who do not pay, then the services would drop dramitically.

Posted by: Pig on Apr 11, 2008 at 08:57 PM
The city is self insured, so they don't pay premiums to anybody, so they can set the "premiums" at whatever they want. Right now they claim 5% would only amount to $50 or 60 bucks a month which would mean "premiums" are $1000 a month. There is nothing stopping them from claiming next year that "premiums" are $5000 a month for family coverage and require us to pay 5% of that. If there was some cap or stipulation about what the premiums are or can be, I'd pay 10%, but to agree to a percentage when the city could make up whatever they want is not going to fly.

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 11, 2008 at 07:42 PM
Chief Warren spiked his retirement. It is out of control!! I hope Fahey is recalled. It is a mess!

Posted by: C.S on Apr 11, 2008 at 03:26 PM
BOO HOO, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO PAY A PORTION OF YOUR HEALTH CARE... TRY THE REAL WORLD, WHERE PEOPLE AVG. A $100.00 A WEEK FOR HEALTH CARE. MAYBE IF NOT ALL BENEFITS WEREN'T FREE TO THE OMAHA EMPLOYEE'S , MAYBE OMAHA WOULDN'T BE AS FAR IN DEBT. AS THEY SAY WE ARE TO BE. SICK PAY - GET PAID FOR BEING SICK.... AGAIN, BOO, HOO. I GET NO SICK PAY, I GET NO HOLIDAY PAY, I GET NO RETIREMENT, BUT I'M STILL WORKING TO FEED MY KIDS. YOU CHOOSE YOUR CAREER, NO ONE CHOOSE YOUR CAREER - YOU DID. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT QUIT..........

Posted by: anonymous on Apr 11, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Okay i would like to see jsut 1 person do what the police men and women do in this city. DO YOU PUT YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE EVERY TIME YOU GO TO WORK?? Does your family members wonder will you come home after your shift ends.The crime is bad enough but if there was no police where would this town be and if you want to do it better or at what the city wants why aren't you? YOur not resking your life jsut theres to do it for you right. They earn it.

Posted by: The Original Cop on Apr 11, 2008 at 02:44 PM
Anonymous at 9:42. You lost all credibility in your first two sentences. "Your pension plan is FULLY funded with taxpayer money". then you say "You pay 15% into retirement" Your contradicting yourself. If the pension is fully funded by the taxpayer, I'd sure like to know where the $12,500 I paid into my pension last year went. Do you people realize that all the officers that retired last year with "spiked" pensions under the current 75% of Gross pay system would have made much less in retirement if the 99% of BASE plan was in place? Don't get hung up on the percentage, but look at the real dollars. The union plan would pay out smaller pensions then the current plan.

Posted by: Mayor is Lying With Stastics on Apr 11, 2008 at 01:56 PM
There has been a short fall of officer's in OPD for years. Recently as many as 100 officers. What this means is that the city has been saving millions at the expense of citizens and officers safety. When Omaha has fewer officers, under the authorized limit, then there are less officer putting into the pension system. This saves the city millions in wages, health costs, and widens the pension gap, since hundreds of would be officers are not putting into the system. In years past negotiations officers have agreed to give up many benefits-such as pay increases, to "pay" for contract enhancements such as a higher pension, or no paying for insurance. The city is self-insured and needs to provide the exact costs of health insurance for each of the city's departments. It's called lying with statistics, the mayor and his staff are masters at it. I wonder why OPD had to turn one million of its budget back to the city when almost every cruiser is pushing 150-200K miles. (New stadium rings a bell).

Posted by: In The Know on Apr 11, 2008 at 01:26 PM
Just remember, all you "Disgruntled Citzens of Omaha," you get what you pay for. Why can't Omaha offer a competetive package to entice the best people out there to become police officers? If you do not offer an attractive benefit, then the quality of the applicants goes down. That leads to a lesser-professional police force. If the benefits package becomes sub-standard, oompared to other area law enforcement agencies, then the Omaha Police Department may end up being staffed with a bunch of losers like you guys who are complaining on this site about how much your own premiums are. If you don't like your own job, quit! If any of you think being a cop is a "gravy train," then go fill out an application...OPD is hiring.

Posted by: Tim M on Apr 11, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Never thought I would see such greed from our Omaha Police Department. Shame on all of you. I'm willing to bet I can get out of my next speeding ticket if I simply slip the cop a $50 bill.

Posted by: Dave on Apr 11, 2008 at 11:25 AM
They are only asked to pay 5% of their health care costs! Where can you sign up? $50 bucks a month for a family, man that would save me hundreds each month.

Posted by: LJ on Apr 11, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Make sure everyone reads JP's comments on 04.10.08. Just plain common sense. Thank you JP.

Posted by: Ralph on Apr 11, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Fahey or should I say Mayor Landow has leaked this to the press to get the heat off Fahey because of the stadium issue. They are not telling you the entire story. Come on People Fahey has a habit of telling half truths. He will only leak the information that benefits his and the cities position. There is another side of the story that is not being told.

Posted by: Toney on Apr 11, 2008 at 10:10 AM
First of all opd & ofd need to quit there whining, YOU CHOSE YOUR OCCUPATION, so the petty calls you respond to are your job. As for working a second job many people just to make ends meet and still have no health benefits. And they will do this the rest of there life with no pension in sight. Also, you work for the city, so I beleive your negotiations should be public knowledge, what do you have to hide. And since alot of you say the public doesn't have all the info, fill us in then. The military should not have even been brought up, civilian officers would even make it a nice percentage of you wouldn't pass the physical standards. As a matter of fact, physical appearance and preparedness should be apart of contract negotiations since you call yourselves professionals. I have seen some officers and firemen who look like they couldn't make it around the block with out having to stop to catch ther breath

Posted by: OPD is a joke on Apr 11, 2008 at 10:05 AM
These guys can't even fill out an accident report without scratching their heads in confusion. Lost all respect i ever had for Omaha cops.

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 11, 2008 at 09:42 AM
Your pension plan is fully funded with taxpayer money, same as your salary and other benefits, all taxpayer money. You pay approximately 15% of your salary into retirement, the city pays approx. 22%, yes all taxpayer money. After you retire where does your monthly checks come from? Yes, taxpayer money. Tell me again how you get nothing from the city after your retire? That means you have to go out and get your own health insurance after you retire, or are you on the city's selfinsured plan, all paid for by taxpayer money. So how is it you get nothing from the city after you retire? And I bet your second jobs pay into social security, so guess what, you can collect that too, of course not at age 45....Why is it right for the taxpayer to pay you for unreal benefits, and the taxpayer is not entitled to the same?

Posted by: pete on Apr 11, 2008 at 08:27 AM
What do you expect? This mayor gave the farm away last contract..I guess it was a good faith measure..but the cops turned it into a profit making deal..Get real..you earn your money (some of them) but you aren't worth 90K a year retirement at a young age and still able to work to get more.. I call it greed..

Posted by: Granville on Apr 11, 2008 at 07:09 AM
Here we go again negotiating with ungrateful and elitist cops, many of whom have become better at "picking pockets" than some of the culprits they chase on the streets. Beyond that, the majority of them don't even live within Omaha but instead reside and shop in the small towns and rural areas surrounding the city. If they aren't pleased with the benefits financed by hard working--and hard-pressed--urban residents, perhaps they should dust off their resumes and see how far they get with applications at Springfield, Gretna and rural Sarpy County.

Posted by: TRUEFACT on Apr 11, 2008 at 06:21 AM
the fact of the matter is we could get 2,800 of the 12-20 million illegals to do their jobs for a fraction of the cost... I know, they took most of the commerial const. jobs for sub-standard wages / no benefits & put hundreds of us out of work here in Omaha...I personnal have found the cops to be the laziest people that work,God forbid if they had to fill out a report on anything besides a murder....what a racket.... let's face it everyone's job haves somewhat of a danger level, some more than others.... Quit being so greedy for just a job!

Posted by: OPD Friend on Apr 10, 2008 at 11:14 PM
let me get this straight...there are Omaha cops on here trying to tell me that the pension system is "self sustaining!" Are you kidding me? "Self-sustaining" when fireman and cops are retiring at age 45-50 making more money in retirement than when they worked, and new hires paying in at less of a rate as veterans? I geuss I can't equate your math! Bottom line, the 99% pension is a great plan, and would benefit everyone involved to help avoid this "non-existent shortfall." If there were no shortfall, then why would you be asked to pay more into the pension or pay SOMETHING when it comes to insurance premiums? The biggest joke here is OFD, they literally work less than 1/2 the year w/ most of em working another full-time job!! Thats wrong and needs to stop. Why cant OFD work a schedule like OPD? I know firemen making almost as much $ from their second job as they do at OFD! Bottom line-FAHEY and this CITY COUNCIL screwed over the tax payers five years ago when they signed these contracts!

Posted by: Henry on Apr 10, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Let's put this in perspective, military personnel can only retire with a maximum of 75% of their pay after 30 years on active duty protecting the policeman's and fireman’s right to have a job in a FREE country That military member still has to pay for their health insurance once they retire. Why should these policemen and women get to have what the military cannot? It's time these folks woke up to the fact their sacrifices while very worthy are higher than the benefits of the troops and their families that actually GARUNTEE the benefits of the police and firefighters. They should not get anything better that is afforded our active duty, guard and reserve troops that fight and have died on foreign shores to ensure the way of life the police and fire fighters seem to take for granted! Grow up and face your responsibilities, pay your share; everyone else is tired of paying it for you! What makes you better than the military? Why should you have better benefits than they do?

Posted by: C on Apr 10, 2008 at 09:32 PM
I believe that the majority of police and fire understand, and are willing to pay for their health insurance. This figure of 5% that keeps getting floated in the media is misleading. The city is self insured, it doesn't pay premiums. So how is anyone supposed to kow what that 5% is based on. Second, the city doesn't only want the police and fire to pay a premium, they also want to change the current plan. I challenge anyone to honestly say that if they were in the Police and Fire shoes they would idly stand by and give up everything their brothers and sisters fought so hard for. I don't care what anybody tries to sell the public the pension system is not bankrupting the city. The Police and Fire pension fund sustains itself. As long as police and fire keep hiring to their compliment there are people paying into the fund. The people who should really be upset are the police and firefighters themselves. People close to retirement who spike are only hurting the future retirees.

Posted by: F.D. on Apr 10, 2008 at 09:12 PM
Once again the public is not infrmed of the whole truth. As a policeman or fireman for the city of Omaha we have given up many things in the past to get the benifits that we have. Once we retire the city no longer pays anything to us. We are exposed to countless illnesses that the public never has to be in contact with. For all of you that think we have a gravy train work a day or week inour shoes. If our pay is so great then how come about 90% of us have to work a second job just to make ends meet. I would also like to remind you that your taxes have not been raised to pay for any of our benifits or pensions. Even when the City is being unfair to us we will still be out their responding to all of your emergencies. If you really want the city to save money then stop calling 911 for all of your petty arguments and hang nails. The citizens of this city help to drive up the cost of services for all of us. Police and fire deserve everything they get and then some.

Posted by: Wake Up Omaha on Apr 10, 2008 at 09:04 PM
Why does the city council think it is ok to release confidential documents to the media? That is why this process is done behind closed doors. One side gives an offer then the other side counter offers. This process continues until an agreement is made. Each side compromises until each can live with the result. No one gets 100% of their original offer. For the city council to go straight to the media after the first offer shows not only bad judgement but also lack of good faith. How can the police get a fair shake when the city council refuses to play by the rules. If the Police can't be treated fairly by the city council, you can bet the city council won't think twice about screwing the public when it will benifit them!

Posted by: craig on Apr 10, 2008 at 09:04 PM
I have 4 kids and work but guess what we dont get any health benefits thru mine or my wifes job so everything is out of our pocket. Id love to pay even a $100 dollars a month for health insurance.

Posted by: Get over it on Apr 10, 2008 at 09:04 PM
To all of you in the private sector: GET OVER IT! Just because your benifits suck, that means everyone should have the same as you? Lets see your benifits broadcast over the media so I can tell you that you get paid way too much for what you do (even though I have no idea what you do at you job)For you in the military: GET OVER IT! 50% pension would be great, not to mention the free housing and medical while enlisted, gi bill for college, va loan for a house, an va medical after retirement. HEY OMAHA, you get what you pay for. Want to have a retirement package that is the same as the private sector, guess what? Your police will be made up of people who couldn't get hired in the private sector. Want to attract the best and brightest? See where this is leading? Pull your head out and take a fresh view.

Posted by: nick on Apr 10, 2008 at 08:57 PM
God give the police what they want. They are understaffed and put their lives on the line everyday. Mayor Fahey you are a complete idiot I will be glad when you are gone.

Posted by: a on Apr 10, 2008 at 08:56 PM
I'm glad everyone believes what is printed is true. The whole truth will never be told, the media is too anti-police. If you calculate the unions offer, less money would be paid out, and more paid into the pension. How come the mayor never talks about the money the city didn't pay?

Posted by: AJ on Apr 10, 2008 at 08:55 PM
Free rides over OPD! Cut the extra out of your donut or quicktrip fund!

Posted by: James on Apr 10, 2008 at 08:43 PM
It just amazes me, everyone with all the answers, and I bet only 2 people posting here know what is actually going on with ALL the numbers. You guys hear a little bit of the story and run crying thru the streets that the police and fire are thieves. How about you stop a policeman or fireman, they will tell you the straight truth and the real numbers. The so called $60 premium for insurance, when put with the REST of the city's numbers comes out to about a 36% increase for premiums. Thats just one set of numbers the city will NOT tell you, not will the media, it is not a sexy story that way, and forget the OWH, to far left to tell what is right.

Posted by: Ray on Apr 10, 2008 at 08:04 PM
Look at how Lincoln, NE first responders are compensated. They pay up to $400/ month for insurance. I have a $4500.00 a year deductible and pay 80% when that's met. I pay $150.00/month for that insurance. Boo--hoo, big baby firemen and cops, you also have what no one else has and that's a gold standard pension system paying you significantly more in retirement than you made on average the last five years on the job. Greed, greed, and more greed, you guys keep wanting more and won't stop crying till you get it.

Posted by: Dean on Apr 10, 2008 at 07:44 PM
It's about time the Mayor and the city council has stood up against the Police and Fire Unions. Spiking in a pension system should have never been allowed. Police and firefighters are compensated enough. Now their crying about paying just 5% of their premiums. Wake up. Look what the average citizen pays. This city cannot afford to continue on this streak of paying $60K-$100K per year pensions to police and firefighters without going in the red. It's unjust and immoral. Most of all, it's unfair to the common tax payer's of Omaha. I hope the state agrees with the city, I'm tired of seeing the police and fire unions strong hand the city.

Posted by: t on Apr 10, 2008 at 06:37 PM
I'd love to have a $50/month insurance premium.

Posted by: Brad on Apr 10, 2008 at 06:36 PM
It is difficult to have any respect for police officers who had raided the city coffers already. I pay over $ 100 a month for my self-only medical insurance. Even the mayor pays for some of his insurance ! Its 2008 now and the free ride needs to stop. The time for talking is over- pay some of your premiums like the rest of us have already been doing for decades.

Posted by: j on Apr 10, 2008 at 06:36 PM
wasn't it Fahey and the city councel that created that monster of "spiking"? How he puts the pressure and blame on the police union now. Who agreed to the previous contract!! Citizens of Omaha...stop being so angry at the workers, and look closely at those who sign the contracts.

Posted by: Too Funny on Apr 10, 2008 at 06:18 PM
You give someone an inch, and they take a mile every time, and that includes the police. Now that their benefits are so good, they view standard benefit packages that most working people receive, as substandard to them. The poor police may have to pay a whole 50 dollars a month for health insurance. boo hoo.

Posted by: Tyronius on Apr 10, 2008 at 06:17 PM
I have a way to save money, and it has nothing to do with cutting police pensions or benefits. Welfare fraud is a HUGE problem, and costs citizens MILLIONS. I'd bet that 60% of the citizens that officers have contact with, are unemployed, and living off welfare. It astounds me the number of unemployed folk out there, that have big screen tv's, leather furniture, and suv's with spinners on the wheel. Regulate that, and save money. Have the city hire specific investigators, who occasionally and randomly check up on those on welfare. Or here's a great idea. If you commit any high class misdemeanor, or felony, your welfare benefits should be revoked. Maybe having the incentive to get that government paycheck will also cause the rising crime rate to go down. Or, there is the idea that we could cut the police pensions, their benefits, and with the growing crime rate, cause many of our fine officers to flee employment from the city. The city, and society, is going to hell in a handbasket.

Posted by: Pants on Fire on Apr 10, 2008 at 04:44 PM
Are you kidding me Fahey? I doubt he is giving the media the full story, and we can't count on getting all of it here either. The point of his comment is to smear the Police Union, not bring resolution on behalf of the city. Fahey needs to go, badly. His ego is out of control.

Posted by: Hang it up Fahey on Apr 10, 2008 at 04:43 PM
Come on Fahey, you've got to be kidding us. Some Mayor you've been. You can even come to agreements with police or fire on contracts? What the heck did you do in the private sector? Now this will cost the city even more in court and attorney's fees. You state this could take months more to resolve. Great that means more officer will be retiring on the old "spiking contract" you and your city council approved. Apparently you don't know how to bargin. If only $50-60 a family is the "hang-up", then maybe it's time for you to hang it up.

Posted by: really fahey on Apr 10, 2008 at 04:38 PM
really fahey...this isn't what you leaked to the press yesterday.

Posted by: C on Apr 10, 2008 at 03:51 PM
I got the "you have to chip in" this year memo at work. It starts coming out of my pay weekly starting in June. WAKE UP!! Cost are going up for everybody. Next time I see an officer / fireman I'll think LEACH / CROOK! Just putting in my time to get the retirement.

Posted by: BJ on Apr 10, 2008 at 03:46 PM
They never had it so goo and never will again!!!

Posted by: R on Apr 10, 2008 at 02:29 PM
That doesn't sound too bad. My monthly health premiums are over $400. I would be pleased to pay as little as $50 - $60.

Posted by: JP on Apr 10, 2008 at 02:19 PM
As a police officer who knows it's a tough job, I agree that there should be some good benefits. However, let's be realistic. The pension is and was a gold mine. It should have never gotten to what it is. Don't blame the cops, the CITY agreed to it and LET IT HAPPEN. If they wanted the excessive overtime to be controlled the MAYOR and COUNCIL could have directed the previous CHIEF, St. Thomas of Warren, to control it. There NO reason the police and fire can't contribute to health care premiums. OPD has a tough job, but the other law enforcement agencies in the metro also do, and they do their jobs with in many cases a poor pension system and contributing for thier family medical premiums. Omaha, you have a tough job, but so do alot of other first responders. City officials, YOU created this problem. FIX IT. This makes us all look bad and greedy.

Posted by: Biff on Apr 10, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Sorry, but just about everyone else pays a portion of their health insurance....the way the costs are rising, I don't think this is unreasonable.....

Posted by: Jim on Apr 10, 2008 at 01:02 PM
If you eat the donuts, you should have to pay a portion of the health insurance premium!

Posted by: Anon on Apr 10, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Are you kidding me!!! Why can't these guys pay $50 - $60 for health ins. That is alot cheaper than the majority of the work force in this town!!!

Posted by: Liz on Apr 10, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Most families pay over $300/month for health insurance when provided by private employers. Why should the police pay ONLY $50/family. Their pensions are already bankrupting this city!! Stop being so greedy, policepeople!!!

Posted by: Joe on Apr 10, 2008 at 12:26 PM
I respect every FD and PD officer and I understand that they take a HUGE risk everyday on the job, but I am sorry I pay $125/month for health insurance for my wife and I and I know I am one of the lucky ones. There are millions of people in America that can not afford any coverage and with all of the shortfalls in our local economy and budget I would hope that as a fellow member of the community that they would be willing to man up and pay a small portion of their share.

Posted by: D on Apr 10, 2008 at 12:15 PM
They need to come into the real world. I pay $115 per month for my own single policy from my employer. Families pay $350. $50, give me a break!!!

Posted by: In The Know on Apr 10, 2008 at 11:55 AM
The hangup is NOT with just the insurance premium payment. It is with the entire offer from the city. The two sides are not even close. The mayor is lying to the citizens of Omaha, when he makes it sound like that an agreement is so close.