Peabody police union settles contract with city

PEABODY-Details of the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the Peabody Benevolent Association have been released, albeit earlier than intended.Both Mayor Michael Bonfanti and Assistant City Solicitor Dan Cocuzzo had originally postponed revealing the information to the public because of other ongoing union negotiations taking place in Peabody. They preferred to keep the details confidential to not impact the others.?We weren?t trying to hide anything as far as the contract is concerned,” said Cocuzzo, who has spent the last 14 months in negotiations. “We were just delaying the process a bit.”The new agreement gives officers a retroactive pay increase of 2 percent for the year between July 2007 and July 2008, a 5 percent increase for the following year, and a 3 percent increase in both 2009 and 2010. The deal expires in 2011.Representatives from the police union were unable to be reached Friday; however, Bonfanti and Cocuzzo said both parties were pleased with how the process turned out.?In order to get what we needed?there were some concessions that the city had to make,” said Cocuzzo. “And at the end of the day, the three items we needed are there.”Health insurance was the main concern for the city, said Cocuzzo. They wanted to increase employee contribution to health insurance premiums, increase co-pays, and make plan design changes in regards to filling prescriptions and emergency room visits. The city successfully completed all of the above.Members of the union will now contribute 15 percent to the premium rate of the Blue Cross-Blue Shield Plans or the equivalent, up from 10 percent. They will also pay a $10 co-pay for office visits as opposed to $5 in prior years. Emergency room charges will increase from $25 to $50 for both plans, retail drug prescriptions will increase from $5 and $10 to $10, $15, and $30 for both plans, and co-payments for mail order drug prescriptions will rise from $10, $20, and $30 to $20, $40, and $70, also for both plans.Bonfanti expressed discontent with the fact that the city had to negotiate insurance benefits in the first place. He said he wished the legislature would allow cities and towns to regulate the matter themselves, so money wouldn?t have to be wasted on the lengthy process.?We can?t unilaterally change health insurance,” explained Cocuzzo. “The way the law is set up, you have to negotiate it. We can?t expect to get back 5 percent in health insurance and not compensate the individual for that loss.”The city also wanted to add mandatory random drug testing to the agreement, and were successful in that endeavor, as well.Union members will have to comply with random hair follicle testing multiple times if such is the case. Cocuzzo said the results will provide evidence of drug use dating back 90 to 110 days. He said that process being used is entirely new and different from the one followed by the fire department.?It?s more extensive and more comprehensive,” he said, adding that Peabody is one of the only communities he knows of mandating the test.But, the contract wasn?t entirely beneficial to the city. Officers will receive increased longevity bonuses (15 years from $700 to $1,000; 20 years from $800 to $1100), be assigned any and all detail work in the city, and receive higher awards for passing specific weapon qualification training.As of July 1, 2008, officers who complete training will receive two installments of $200. That amount will increase to $250 in 2009 and $375 in 2010.They will also receive September 11 as a paid holiday.?This was one of the things they, for some reason, really wanted and offered to take other things off the table to get it,” said Bonfanti.Although the economy isn?t in great shape, Bonfanti said the city is well prepared and able to meet their end of the bargain.?Who knows what it?s going to be two years from now,” said Cocuzzo, explaining that adjustments might have to be made if needed.?Either we negotiate more or take some steps,” said