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SCHENECTADY
Union officer busy on 252 days
Lt. rarely reports for police duty
BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter

    Police union President Bob Hamilton worked as a regular lieutenant for just three days in 2009, reporting that he needed to spend the rest of the year on union business.
    The city paid him for 252 days of union work.
    The amount was a new record for the most union days taken in one year at the Schenectady Police Department. The previous all-time high was held by former union President Anthony Brown, who claimed 245 days for union business in 2003. He not only took off every day that he was scheduled to work, but also said he had to complete union business on at least 10 vacation days.
    Hamilton said he had to perform union duties during 26 of his 31 vacation and personal days, according to records released Friday under the Freedom of Information Act.
    City officials found that claim difficult to believe.
    “It just seems more than unusual that that much time should be needed for such a small police force,” said Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett.
    He noted that the union leaders in the state police represent about 1,200 troopers each — while Hamilton represents about 150 officers.
    “In fairness to him, the disciplinary hearings this year have been abnormally high,” Bennett said. “He will argue it’s prep time. There’s some truthfulness to that. But what about the rest of the time?”
    Hamilton did not return a call seeking comment.
    For years, Hamilton has claimed he cannot report for duty because of union business so often that the department no longer expects him to come to work. Management created a new position, hiring an extra lieutenant to handle what used to be Hamilton’s supervisory duties. Hamilton does not even call in daily; his days are automatically marked off with a “u” for union business. ...................>>>>...................>>>>.................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00101&AppName=1

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Police work always a holiday
Schenectady PBA chief paid OT for three days he worked in 2009 for city

By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer
First published in print: Saturday, January 30, 2010

SCHENECTADY -- The three days Schenectady police union boss Robert Hamilton showed up for work in 2009 fell on holidays when he earned regular pay plus time and a half, according to city financial records obtained by the Times Union under a Freedom of Information request.

The work pattern of the Schenectady Police Benevolent Association president continues to frustrate city leaders who say changing the unlimited leave time Hamilton and other union officials are entitled to under the current contract is a top priority during ongoing negotiations.
But for that to happen, Mayor Brian U. Stratton knows the city will have to make some concessions.

"A police officer's first responsibility is to be a police officer," said Stratton who has pledged to clean up the 157-member police force that has for years struggled with an image problem. "It's a continual burr in our side and something we need to bring reform to...........>>>>..........>>>>..........
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspS.....0/2010#ixzz0e6LVSZp0

I couldn't resist...

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Arrogance: the power suit is often said to be worn only by arrogant people who think they are better than the rest of us. Perhaps a little harsh but I’m trying to include it all.

who are the arbitrators? who signs the contracts? who donates to campaigns/officials?

latin/and legal precedent needs to be taught in middle/high school......NOW........

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Sch’dy police contract needs to be overhauled

Re Jan. 30 article, “Union officer busy on 252 days”: I was reading about police union President Bob Hamilton’s paycheck — it is outrageous. He worked only on days when he could get overtime.
That contract should be shredded and ideas gotten from other police forces. I also believe [the] police union should pay. Take a look at [suspended] Offi cer Dwayne Johnson, who was paid for all that time; has he even been punished? Now a new contract is [being negotiated] — fix it while you can and save us money.

ROSE ANN MARTORANA
Schenectady

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r03008&AppName=1

does anyone think the union workers at county nursing homes are any different???? or state workers union contracts???

Unions use to help the average joe from big buisness.  Now they just give people an excuse not to work at all.  Very sad state of affairs.  The people who fought for unions to exist are probably rolling in their graves.

Unions have morphed into organizations that raise money for political campaigns and the paid union officials. The police union is a perfect example of what a union shouldn't become.

The unions have been bought and paid for by 'bosses'....shame shame shame.....and any redblooded American should know that ANY movement in this country is for an end---not a life style of self
serving whoa is me do gooders.....

in America we have choice---even without unions.....when was the last time anyone saw a 10year old in a factory?.....BTW the unions are so good we now have to have a full day kindergarten to support
the families that have to work extra to afford to pay the taxes to pay the state/county/fed/town union workers salaries and their gumba bosses, so now we need a full time babysitter called the school system
of one of the largest union forces in the country.....GET THE HELL OFF MY BACK......

And did you see Ken Skreven on Ch 6, interviewing the union pres for the Albany police union.  Albany city I guess has negotiated some contracts with no raises, is doing some others (again, non cops) and they'll get no raises....alll these low paid blue collar workers and clerical workers.  But the head of the police union in Albany said on TV they will not under any circumstances accept a contract with no raise, it doesn't matter how bad the economy is, and he specifically said he doesn't care of people have to pay higher taxes.

That's really pathetic.   Cops get overtime real easy.  Most government workers can't get OT.  

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Unions have morphed into organizations that raise money for political campaigns and the paid union officials. The police union is a perfect example of what a union shouldn't become.

Ah Yup!!! Sadly unions have become an entity where good hard work is NOT encouraged nor rewarded, but replaced with higher wages for less work! IMHO

The only workers nowadays that need a union are the ones who don't want to work. Just terrible!

Unions employ many who are unqualified, unable, or unwilling to work productively in the private sector.  These "wards of the system" are
awarded with job security, a comfortable wage, and unparalleled benefits in exchange for their allegiance and loyalty to the
union bosses and their political proponents.

While some in my union are educated, skilled, and experienced, there are many who are unqualified, unintelligent, and unmotivated.
They cannot be fired.  The only way to rid them from an organization is to promote them out to another organization.

I know that we are supposed to stand in solidarity, but this is, sadly, the truth.  

Why aren't Chief Hamilton's wages for hours spent on police union matters paid for from the union dues?  I believe that the salaries of our state union
leaders are paid for by the dues that we members pay.  At least, I recall that we were told that the money taken from our paychecks in union dues was
for the purposes of union representation.  Am I missing something here?  Perhaps the newspaper reporter is misinformed?

It was the same in the union that I was in and the hard working members were carrying those who wouldn't work.