City dismisses unfair labor practice complaint against Police

Below is a copy of a press release from the Mayor's office regarding the unfair labor practice complaint filed by the Peyton administration against the Fraternal Order of Police.

CITY DISMISSES UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE COMPLAINT AGAINST F.O.P.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – July 28, 2011 – The City of Jacksonville has dismissed an unfair labor practice complaint filed with the Public Employees Relations Commission against the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5-30.

“A new administration is an opportunity for a fresh start,” said Mayor Alvin Brown. “This is a good-faith first step toward our ultimate goal: a resolution that benefits taxpayers.”

The unfair labor practice complaint, which was filed by the previous administration, was scheduled to be heard Friday, July 29, 2011 at City Hall. After reviewing the issue and consulting with counsel, the administration determined that moving forward with the complaint could undermine the goal of resolution by adding significant time and expense to the process.

Now that the complaint has been dismissed, the parties will proceed with their scheduled and confirmed hearing before the special magistrate, James Sherman, on September 14-15, 2011. The City and the F.O.P. have agreed that both sides will complete the presentation of their cases in the September 14-15^th hearing.

Following the hearing, the special magistrate will issue his recommended decision. The City and the F.O.P. will have up to twenty (20) days after his recommendations are issued to accept or reject them.  If at any point during that twenty (20) day period either party rejects his recommendations, the issue will immediately go to the Jacksonville City Council for resolution.

“In these difficult fiscal times, we owe it to the taxpayers to roll up our sleeves and do the work necessary to achieve a timely resolution of this dispute,” said Mayor Brown. “I was unwilling to have the City spend more time, legal fees, and costs on an unfair labor practice complaint that was unlikely to help us achieve that goal. Now we can move forward.”