Contracts

By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

Allen Park Police Officers have represented themselves for many years, but with several senior officers getting closer to retirement, they thought it was time to seek professional representation with Michigan Association of Police (MAP).

“We’ve negotiated our own contacts for many years, but it just became time to unionize,” said Chris Franco, Allen Park Police Officers Association Local Union President. “We’ve got a younger department coming up and we just wanted some changes. We felt that having more professional representation would help us.”

The 25-member group voted to join MAP in March 2023 after having Union presentation meetings with MAP and Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM). Allen Park Police Officers were also impressed by what they’d heard about MAP from neighboring agencies.

“There was a lot of word of mouth with MAP and ultimately we saw MAP was a little more personable and dedicated,” Franco said. “We know that traditionally POAM is larger, but we didn’t necessarily want bigger. We wanted more focused. We wanted to be able to reach somebody when we need to and get their attention.”

Their new MAP Labor Relations Specialist Chad Trussler certainly got their attention during their meeting with MAP officials. “It wasn’t an off the wall business plan. They listened to what we needed and we liked Chad and the way Chad talked to us,” Franco said. “He didn’t seem like a business guy trying to sell a product.”

Read more: Allen Park Police Officers choose MAP for professional representation, uniformity

CONTRACT

“We were really grateful for being able to be represented by MAP. This negotiation was the easiest we’ve ever done,” said Joe Ajlouny, Huntington Woods Public Safety Officers Local Union President. “Chad and MAP had a lot of information prepared, including our comparables for now through the next four years. They were on the ball and easily accessible and readily available. It’s been a great experience and everyone is really happy. They’ve been allowing us to sell our 12 (paid) Holidays at end of year if we didn’t use them. Now, they’ve allowed us to do that with our Vacation Time as well. They know when a guy goes on vacation, they pay Overtime or they can sell that time back to them at cost.”

Wage Increases:
6% increase effective July 1, 2023.
5% increase effective July 1, 2024.
5% increase effective July 1, 2025.
4% increase effective July 1, 2026.

Fringe Benefits: Employees now have the option of being paid for unused Vacation Time at the end of each year.

Bargaining Team: MAP Labor Relations Specialist Chad Trussler with Local Union President Joe Ajlouny, Vice President Brian Luther and Secretary Dan Steeby.

By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

Sometimes it’s not just about what you know, but who you know when it comes to seeking out optimal representation. Michigan Association of Police (MAP) checked off all the right boxes with Huntington Woods Public Safety Officers, who joined the Union in February 2023.

Huntington Woods Public Safety Officers were originally represented by Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM), followed by the Police Officers Labor Council (POLC) for the past 8 years. Concerned they were not receiving the representation they desired during contract negotiations, they voted to join MAP.

Local Union President Joe Ajlouny became curious about MAP after former Beverly Hills Public Safety Lt. Chad Trussler retired and became a MAP Labor Relations Specialist in 2021. Trussler had served 15 years combined as Beverly Hills Command Officers Local Union President and a Steward and Treasurer for Beverly Hills Public Safety Officers.

Huntington Woods Public Safety Officers continue to be impressed with the responsiveness of their MAP Labor Relations Specialist.

“It’s been outstanding. He will answer the phone whenever you call. He will respond back the second you text,” Ajlouny said. “Chad even put out his cell phone number to the meeting members that couldn’t attend. He’s literally been so accommodating in every aspect. Prior unions were pretty difficult to get somebody on the phone. With MAP and Chad it’s different. MAP has walked us through every step of it from the vote to the ratification of the contract we just signed.”

Read more: Huntington Woods Public Safety Officers select MAP for optimal representation

CONTRACT

“As soon as we signed the contract we got a 3 percent pay increase from the last year,” said Joe Sparks, Green Oak Township Patrol Officers Local Union President. “We received either $2,000 (individual) or $4,000 (family) contributions into our healthcare spending accounts. We did get the 12-hour shifts. That was our members’ number one request. The guys wanted it for a number of different reasons, like more time to spend with family and more days off. Overall, there are more hours worked yearly, but not as many consecutive days spent at work. Rather than work short days, we get paid for the extra hours worked.”

Wage Increases:
3% increase effective February 2023.
3% increase effective April 1, 2023.
3% increase effective April 1, 2024.
3% increase effective April 1, 2025.
3% increase effective April 1, 2026.

Manning & Safety: Employees transitioned from an 8-hour to 12-hour shift schedule.

Retirement: Beginning April 2026, the Employer will match 100% up to $5,000 per Employee contribution into a 457 Voluntary Supplemental Retirement plan. Upon successful passage of the millage renewal in 2024, the parties agree to a 457 matching contribution Re-opener to include the 2024 and 2025 contract years.

Bargaining Team: MAP Labor Relations Specialist Chad Trussler with Local Union President Joe Sparks, Vice President Brittany Besso and Secretary David Vaseloff.