By George P. Hassett

The opposing parties in one of the city’s longest labor disputes are coming closer to reaching an agreement. City officials and patrol union representatives met Friday, March 16 to try and put an end to the 33 months patrolmen have gone without a contract.

‚ÄúWe had a constructive meeting,‚Äù said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.  ‚ÄúThe city upped its offer and we made some progress.‚Äù  Patrolmen‚Äôs Union President Jack Leutcher said he met with city attorneys Friday for three hours. The negotiations have improved since police began picketing City Hall with firefighters who also have not had a contract in nearly three years, he said.

“At least they’re at the table now,” Leutcher said.

“Before the pickets there was virtually no negotiations. {City officials} would spend 75 percent of the meeting outside the room, come in say something silly and leave again.”

However, Curtatone said the pickets hindered negotiations and delayed progress. “The energy spent to picket should have been spent at the negotiating table,” he said.

Leutcher said the 33 months patrolmen have gone without a contract is the longest he can remember. He said the points of contention are differences on pay raises for officers and plans to reorganize the police department.

‚ÄúWe don‚Äôt know what they want on the reorganization, that‚Äôs the big problem,‚Äù he said.  Another gripe union leaders have is the length of a contract.  The patrolmen‚Äôs union wants a four year contract and the city has offered two years, which would still leave patrolmen without a contract, covering only the two years they went without one, Leutcher said.

“It’s in the best interest for everyone to have a year before we go back to the table,” he said. Curtatone said skyrocketing health care costs are also an issue for the city.

“Health care costs are a budget buster,” Curtatone said. “And I have to hold a line for the taxpayers.”

Leutcher said if negotiations revert to a standstill, the patrolmen’s union will resume picketing. “If nothing happens, the bad stuff will start all over again,” he said.