With about 30 St. Petersburg police officers and their family members standing behind him, the leader of the local police union lambasted city officials Tuesday for the stance they are taking during contract negotiations. ...more

June 11, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - With roughly 30 St. Petersburg police officers and their family members standing behind him, the leader of the local police union lambasted city officials today for the stance they are taking during current contract negotiations. The city is offering officers a 3 percent raise while the union, the Pinellas County Police Benevolent Association, is asking for a 7 percent increase, said PBA President Mark Deasaro. The city's offer, he said, constitutes neither a living wage nor a competitive one. ...more

June 10, 2008

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee deserves applause for taking a tough stand against excessive union demands, despite a union-funded attack campaign and threats of political repercussions. ...more

May 30, 2008

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee no longer has to sit down at a bargaining table to determine his deputies' salaries. ...more

May 24, 2008

With a vote of 449 to 137, Hillsborough's detention deputy chapter of the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association has dropped the union as its representative for collective bargaining, said the union's executive director, Jim Diamond. ...more

May 23, 2008

AVON PARK — A dozen Avon Park police officers crowded the council chambers, ready to protest a possible decision to stop them from taking their police cruisers home. They didn't need to do anything but wear their white Southwest Florida Police Benevolent Association shirts Monday evening, as the council postponed a vote on the policy for another month. ...more

May 13, 2008

After declaring an impasse over salary talks just weeks ago, leaders at the University of South Florida and the union representing campus police officers reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. ...more

January 22, 2008

The Brooksville Police Department has a union. With a 6-5 vote and four officers not voting, the department founded its fraternal order of police chapter Thursday and will fall under the auspices of the Pinellas County Police Benevolent Association. ...more

January 5, 2008

Lucky To Have Gee Regarding "Union's Attack On Sheriff Conceals Financial Motive (Our Opinion, Dec. 6): ...more

December 14, 2007

The police union is upset with Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee because he won't go along with its contract proposal. But you won't see anything about its demand for raises of up to 10 percent in the union's brochures or ads attacking the sheriff. ...more

December 6, 2007