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Lee's Summit
Police Officer's Association
Debate Room Thread
Posted by Miller
on August 10, 2009, 4:14 pm, in reply to "LSPOA"
It's funny you should ask this when you did, since one of the next "pushes" I plan is a recruitment drive. It's important for members and non-members alike to understand what they get when they join the LSPOA, and by extension, the FOP.
1. The Legal Defense Plan. Do not underestimate the importance of this one element. Even if you participate in none of the other benefits, the one time you need this plan, it will pay for itself many times over. Please do not have any illusions as to the Department indemnifying you, "come what may." There are plenty of circumstances where this Department's interests may be at odds with yours. Severing ties would be the only responsible thing for the leadership to do. Right or wrong, justified or not, you will go into lifelong debt to pay for the attorney to prove that what you did was right. Don't believe me? Ask around and see. Beyond that, the legal plan covers you for unfair administrative actions, too.
2. Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance. The dues you pay will give your family a $2,000.00 line of duty death benefit for you, $1,000.00 accidental death benefit for you and your spouse, and a $500 benefit for accidental death of a child. Also, there is a $10,000.00 benefit from the Missouri State Lodge for accidental death and $20,000 for line of duty death for the member. Like many of the benefits listed here, these are IN ADDITION to any and all other benefits you receive from other sources.
3. Labor representation. I have dropped the ball lately in letting people know what has been occurring behind the scenes to improve your working conditions. The hit you took when the City reduced their contribution to your healthcare this year was bad...but could have been worse. Your LSPOA, along with IAFF and IAM, had to fight on your behalf to limit the reduction to what it was; originally, it was about twice as bad for you! Come see me and I'll show you the spreadsheets, I hung onto them. Do not doubt for one second that without the collective efforts of these labor organizations, you would be working for far less pay and your benefits would be far less. Don't believe me? Let’s chat.
4. Continued efforts on your behalf concerning benefits. Within the past couple of weeks, we have selected an insurance broker and a facilitator to work with the Comp and Benefit Committee. This is a City-wide Committee that is looking very hard at ensuring that the health insurance provided to employees is the best choice for those employees. LSPOA is your voice on that committee. When you see Cooper, give her a big hug, and thank her for all the things you don't know that she does for you. This basically amounts to a part-time job in and of itself.
5. Collective Bargaining. I know we've been beating this drum for a while now. It's a long, slow process. But it IS coming. Who is the natural voice of LSPD officers in the process? I'd have to say I would much rather be represented by someone who goes through bad guys’ doors with me, and who knows the names of my children, than anyone else. If you can think of anyone that will work harder for you than your friends and co-workers, let me know. That would be one incredible person with whom to shake hands. The LSPOA Executive Board has been using their vacation days to attend seminars so that when the time comes, we can represent you in the most professional and most effective manner possible. A lot is going on behind the scenes.
6. Social and Philanthropic activities. Who is there for your co-workers when they have a personal tragedy? I can tell you that not one request for assistance has been denied since I became President, and I don't believe for one second that anyone was turned down prior to that. When we don't have enough dough to help out, we have fundraisers. LSPOA benefits are IN ADDITION to all other aid that a family receives. We are helping our co-workers, our friends, here.
7. Getting YOUR voice heard. Have an issue you want raised with any level of our leadership? Bring it to us. "The Brass" here affords us an ear. They include us on the Policy Committee, the Equipment Committee, monthly meet-and-confer sessions with the Chief, and yearly meet-and-confer sessions with City leadership. And believe it or not, they actually LISTEN, despite what your cynical neighbor may tell you. Do you have an issue that hasn't been raised? If so, your next question needs to be...did you ask us to raise it? I've come to shift briefings to ask before, and no one has asked me to raise issues of concern. I can tell you that NOT ONE TIME has someone asked me to voice something that I did not voice with the appropriate person. Disagree? Let's chat in person...I'm all ears; maybe you can convince me I'm wrong.
7. Anyone still reading by this point, if you need more, then come see me. This is just a partial list. I believe in this organization and what we do. If your needs are not met, tell me what they are. I am positive that we can find a way to get YOUR interests served. Want to learn more without having to talk to me? Follow this link:
http://www.fop50.org/benefit.htm
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