aructte APUG Loom 2a P.O. BOX 6567, ALBANY, NEW YORK 12206 (518) 436-9422 > PRESS RELEASE For immediate reiease: September 1, 2009 Contlsct In light of this morning's developments regarding the resignation of Albany Police Chief James Tuffey, the Albany Police Officers Union issues the following statement At this time our main focus is on the safety of the citizens of Albany, our union membership, and our repeated attempts to secure a fair and reasonable labor contract. Nevertheless, while the leadership of this union has had legitimate work-related differences with Chief Tuffey over the years, We feel compelled to comment on the despicable way that this matter was handled by City Hall. It is clear to us that this resignation was forced and that this was an “execution” orchestrated by the Command Staff In ‘the Department and City Halt itself. We wish Chief Tuffey the best in his future endeavors, Regrettably, we believe that City Hall is using Chief Tuffey’s resignation to derail the negotiations between the City and the union. Prior to today, this union has been led to believe that the parties were on the verge of a tentative negotiated contract settlement — perhaps as eatiy as this Friday. September 4°. When contacted by the union, Deputy Mayor Phil Calderone unbelievably pretended that he doesnt even know how the negotiations are going or what the issues are, and is denying that the settlement was going to happen this Friday. This is clearly just another dirty political trick by just another politician | must be made known that even though the City dragged ils feet for saveral months with regard to these negotiations, a few weeks ago the City showed @ remarkable interest in settling the contract after it spparently heard rumors that the union was going to endorse Shawn Morris for Mayor. Mayor dennings himself made a telephone call to Jim Lyman and pledged that the contract would get done shortly ~ even though Jim Lyman mad it clear that no promises by the union wore being made. As a result of that phone call, Christian Meslay met with the Mayor to discuss terms of the settlement, and the Mayor said that he would get back to him, Shawn Marris dropped out of the race a few days later and the Mayor was never heard from again. In spite of that, the union and Chief Tuffey negotiated the framework of a settlement which was to be signed off on this Friday. Today, Deputy Mayor (and longtime adversary of Chief Tuffey) Calderone, who has stated numerous times thet itis his persona! pinion that the union should get two four-percent raises for the years in question and has acknowledged that an interest arbitrator would award such raises, let the union know that the deal may or may not happen this Friday. Perhaps he wants something in return, something additional, before the deal can be Struck. You be the judge as to what is and what has been going on. At the very ieast, itis bargaining in bad faith This union urges the Mayor and the Common Council to look beyond the members of the Command Staff, who by their actions have severely weakened the stability of this Department and Placed their own personal agendas over the safety of both the public and its police officers, in hiring the ext chief. To our members, we pledge to continue to battle for fair and just treatment of the men and women of the Albany Police Department Td Gere 68P stayed 2 THINNOD wen: GI T:PT 60, 10-80 Teg'ON FTES