Union To Cops: Reject Overtime On Labor Day Weekend

Chicago Police
Chicago police officers work extra hours during the city’s NATO summit in 2012. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 is asking the city’s cops to pass up overtime during what could be one of the year’s most violent weekends. Chip Mitchell / WBEZ
Chicago Police
Chicago police officers work extra hours during the city’s NATO summit in 2012. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 is asking the city’s cops to pass up overtime during what could be one of the year’s most violent weekends. Chip Mitchell / WBEZ

Union To Cops: Reject Overtime On Labor Day Weekend

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The union that represents 10,000 Chicago police officers is asking them to take a pass on extra hours during what could be one of the year’s most violent weekends.

A Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 poster approved by Dean Angelo Sr., the union’s president, calls on the city’s cops to “refrain from volunteering to work … non-mandatory overtime” this Labor Day weekend.

The purpose, according the union, is to “show unity and to protest the continued disrespect of Chicago police officers and the killings of law-enforcement officers across our country.”

The union is also gearing up for negotiations with Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration to replace a five-year contract that expires next June.

That contract bars the FOP from encouraging any work stoppage or “concerted refusal to perform duties.”

A statement from police department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says cops working holidays helps keep Chicago safe.

“We do not expect any disruption in operations” during that weekend, the statement says.

Violence during Labor Day weekend last year injured at least 54 people, 8 fatally.

Chip Mitchell reports out of WBEZ’s West Side studio. Follow him on Twitter @ChipMitchell1 and @WBEZoutloud, and connect with him through Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn.