Mass. City Gives Cops Holiday Pay On 9/11

(CBS/AP)  For police in a Boston suburb, Sept. 11 is now a holiday.

A new four-year contract between the North Shore city of Peabody (pop. 48,129) and its police union makes the anniversary of the terrorist attacks a paid holiday, with officers receiving time and a quarter for working on the day.

The provision is the first of its kind in Massachusetts, and for most of the nation as well.

The New York City police department (which lost 23 officers on 9/11) does not recognize Sept. 11 as a paid holiday, and representatives of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers and the International Union of Police Associations told The Salem News they were unaware of any locals that had negotiated similar provisions.

Manny Costa, president of the Peabody Police Benevolent Association, told The Boston Herald that the contract provision was not about money, but respect.

"Every year we memorialize the losses of all the brother officers and firemen. That was the reason for it," he said.

Derry, N.H., has similar provision for officers, according to the Herald.

The Peabody contract, which gives officers a 13 percent pay hike over four years, also allows random drug testing and makes concessions on health care.

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Another useless way to spend the taxpayers money. What''s the matter? Detail work overtime pay is not enough that you have to ask for a time and a half holiday so you can recieve the benefits that the deceased victim''s relatives should be getting?

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Just-Kilaman - Don''t know about anyone else (but I have seen a couple of posts) but I, for one, am getting tired of reading the comments on a story and all you can talk about is politics. Get a life!

[caldwellptr]

And Yes, I believe Policemen and Firemen and First Responders should receive Holiday pay on 9/11. Not in celebration of a 9/11 Holiday, but for the sacrifices they have made, not only on 9/11 but for every day they are on the job.

On the flip side, I did work for someone who told me why should I pay you extra for just doing your job?

[caldwellptr]

Dear: Posted by Just-Kilaman at 11:29 AM : Oct 21, 2008

After recently living in Alaska I found Alaskans ambivalent about Statehood. Yes there is a secessionist movement there. The head of the secessionist party was murdered. Local rumor is that the FBI killed him to hinder the movement.

Alaska has been a state for less than 50 years. Alaska has not seen the infrastructure buildout like the rest of the United States. But the Alaska Constitution is considered one of the best modern examples of a document outlining self governance.

And regardless of where anyone stands on secession, I believe the issue was decided during the Civil War.

[questionnews]

McCain needs to answer on the story below! Why in the world would he select someone so dangerous to run with him!

Breaking News: The Terrorist Group AKA Alaska Independent party Calling on Russia to help secede from the Union

Extremists Mark Chryson and Steve Stoll former leaders of the Alaska Terrorist group AKA Independence Party and friends of Sarah Palin are calling on Russia to help them gain independence from the United States.

Watch video of Sarah palin addressing The Alaska Terrorist Group also known as The Independence party. They are calling for a civil war against the mainland.

www.chilitoz.com


Posted by Just-Kilaman at 11:29 AM : Oct 21, 2008

See kids! This is what you turn into when your mother drinks heavily & takes drugs during pregnancy. Eating all those paint chips didn''t help him much either.

[questionnews]

Nothing says "Remember the victims" like sticking the taxpayer with a paid day off to BBQ, pound beers and laugh at all those poor suckers who have to go to work that day.