New Haven Independent

Posted by: jjlowe332 | October 1, 2009 9:42 AM

Oh this is great. Good job give more and get less. Well I hope we can get more back from the fire department who gets a raise for the next two years and still has the top healthcare (Century preferred). We can save on money if the Fire deparment stops driving the trucks to the stores to shop for groceries and go to an intoxicated person call. I laugh when I see the firefighter washing their personal cars on City time. The fire department needs to stop getting high pay (they only let things burn then water it out) and next contract give back like all the other unions and come back to the same benefits the teachers and public works have now. Mr. Mayor was your father a cop or a fire fighter because the police gave up something the past three contracts. Can't wait to see what happens in two years!
I want to thank the police for the low numbers on crime and the long hours they put on the streets away from their family. I think its sad that you spend so much time fighting someone every shift and not have the luxury only responding to a call (fire) every so often.
This contract will bring in less qualified persons to do your work. Its sad some already got through the process but now the more qualified wont apply. Its easier to qualify to be a firefighter not having an extensive backround check (and they get better contracts). Like they say if you can't be a cop be a fire fighter or work for public works. Bad deal bad contract. Maybe the cops should have the Fire fighters Union!!! They will get paid to shut one police station down a night and get good benefits. PLEASE!!!!!! Good luck in the long run officers you got bagged.

Posted by: louis | October 1, 2009 1:22 PM

ATTENTION JJLOWE332: Sounds like sour grapes. Just because you got screwed, don't take it out on our brother and sister public safety professionals (and brother and sister union members) on the NHFD, who come to our (PD) aid when we are injured, rescue us when we are trapped in our wrecked cars, ect. Lets not race each other to the bottom, pay and benefits-wise. When we are at each other's throats, that only benefits the administration.

Posted by: Disgruntled | October 1, 2009 4:24 PM

�This really hushed them,� said Cavaliere. �We had the support.�

Sgt. Cavaliere, are you kidding? Making comments like this clearly shows your intentions with this contract. You and and Union Board used the scare tactics of going to arbitration to sell this contract. You had only one thing in mind which was to look out for your own. As a Union and Union President your job is to represent the entire Union body. You failed in doing that and you are publicly stating that you support all the cops with time on the job and you sold the new cops down the river. You failed with this contact and opened to door for even more concessions down the road.

Why are there so many individual stipulations within this contract? Increasing the retirement age does NOT benefit the majority of the Union body? Who cares about the motorcycles?! Of course your son does. This contract is a disgrace and you and your buddies sold it just like you promised the mayor.

Thanks for nothing. You will not be reelected as Union President the next time around. You might as well put in your papers now since you preserved your benefits.

Posted by: tom | October 1, 2009 4:42 PM

WoW, if your not happy as a cop leave the job. see if you can get a better deal/contract at another police department, or in the civil field,

Posted by: jjlowe332 | October 1, 2009 4:44 PM

Hey Loius I'm not your brother I'm not in the profession of public safety. You firefighters cry enough about being pulled over or who is in charge of a scene so you can ruin yourselves. Trust me I rather have a true medical professional help me before a firefighter. Firefighters only control a fire and let a building burn before getting control of a fire anyway. Go fight the supreme court for a promotion will you.
I only have a problem with everyone else giving something back and we got layed off and you firefighters gave nothing except kiss up to the Mayor when he was running for Governor. You dont protect the streets just sit on your chairs in front of the firehouse because your bored!!! My taxes are high and you need to GIVE BACK!!

Posted by: kamb | October 1, 2009 8:42 PM

You're all (insert explicative here that starts with F)"F#$@! in the head."

The contract is absolutely fair, and way better than any other P.D. in the state. Yes, New Haven is an absolute dangerous disaster of a city run by an incompetant mayor, and the P.D. should have one of the best contracts, so things are not that bad considering the city is a financial mess.

It's a good contract. The onyl thing you should be worried about is, is that the city starts becoming more strong economically, by real businesses coming to the Elm City and someone defeating King John who has a real plan, and idea of how the city should progress through the years.

Posted by: SGT KNICK | October 1, 2009 8:54 PM

Excuse me for using this sight. We all have differences on what we want and don't want in our contract. We can settle this in a different forum. I do not believe blogging and backstabbing is a suitable meens to reach a common goal. Everyone has their own goals and personal expectations in a binding contract. Do we really need to air our own agendas in a public forum so the public thinks we are a divided group not willing to work with one another, the community, or the FD? Which of course we all know is not true. I don't have the answer, but I know attacking each other on a public forum is not the one. Thank You. Knick

Posted by: Morris Cove | October 1, 2009 9:11 PM

JJlowe

Okay already, we know your mad but don't take it out on the Fireman because they got a better deal, the times were better ( fiscally speaking ), when they went through contract talks. There is no need to belittle what they do or travilize the good work they do, I'm friends and neighbors to cops and fireman, and you guys are great, so don't get into an us against them, it's counter productive and serves nobody.

As far as Lou Cavilere goes, yeah he took care of Jr., on the motorcycles but come on he protected the pension and kept the medical the same, and in the end if you can protect those two things your way ahead of the game, trust me look at the private sector. If Lou says that was the best deal he could get, trust him, he's an honorable man, I've known him for 18 years.

Posted by: Happytohaveajob | October 1, 2009 9:39 PM

Wow disgruntled, I think the union membership recognized what was important and it was to preserve what they can. If the city is in poor shape come the next contract, more concessions might have to be negotiated anyway. Why do all the newbies think they know it all? I remember when I was a know-it-all rookie and, once I sat back, shut my mouth, and listened, I actually learned a few things. Lou could have retired a LONG time ago and stays here because of his belief in unions. How dare you insinuate he is here for his sons, particularly his one on the motorcycles, another hard-working union rep. Easy to hide on a blog. You should have the balls to approach him and say the same thing to him. The people who have been here know the value of Lou. When he is gone someday, you'll realize it too. Let's see how well you negotiate for the union. Very easy to complain...very difficult to get involved. "Disgruntled" says it all. You should think about leaving and, once you see what other departments have, or more importantly, don't have, you'll come running back so fast you'll leave skid marks. Just ask they guys who left and came back. Peace

Posted by: young VS old | October 2, 2009 12:02 AM

time to move one.. I was opposed to this contract. I believed that as a whole people had difficulty understanding what they were voting for. Questions about the contract were not answered completely either by mistake or by willingful choice. The vote has been counted and the results are final. We need as a union to take a moment and realize that continuing to fight will only make our possition weaker. Understand what occured durring this negotiation and remeber what has both upset you and pleased you. Put these issues in the back of your mind and make a change if needed when the next election arises, but until that time, we need to suck it up, take the pro's we did recieve and remeber the cons that we gave. Remeber we as a union have the ability to vote differently when the next election comes. Until that time, we need to realize for or against this issue, we all deal with the streets together...I got your 6 if you got mine

Posted by: kamb | October 2, 2009 7:14 AM

sgt knick,
the definition of blog is to voice your ideas and opinions. thats exactly what this forum is for!

what forum do you suggest? .. . we meet at chucky cheese and dedcide our differences over a game of air 'whacka a mole?!'

Posted by: Unreal | October 2, 2009 12:08 PM

Jjlowe332,

I have 2 solutions for your whining,

1- If the job of new haven firefighter is so appealing and luxurious take the next test.

2- If you don't like your taxes, move!!!

Until then go to your cushy desk job and let the brave men and women of the NHPD and NHFD protect you and your family.

Posted by: Sgt Knick | October 4, 2009 9:22 PM

KAMB, did you actually read what i wrote? The people who decide on this contract, our union, should not be discussing "our contract" outside of "our membership" by backstabbing each other in a public forum. You can blog all you want, but i find it disheartening to our 450 plus members that they are airing assaults at each other in the view of everyone, there are alternatives. If u r a concerned citizen, i encourage u to voice ur opinion. if u r Local 530 and hiding behind ur pseudonym, then go whack ur mole.