Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Buffalo Police Benevolent Association (PBA) is beginning contract negotiations with the city after going 443 days without an agreement.
PBA president John Davidson says the union has signed a formal agreement to begin negotiations, but both sides have agreed not to discuss what happens at the bargaining table.
Davidson says the department, currently at about 700 members, is about 100 officers below its budgeted staffing level, with only four officers hired so far this year.
"Ramifications on the membership are really starting to stack up," he told WBEN on Wednesday. "When you work as a police officer, you already work crazy hours and overnights, and now we're experiencing a number of health issues - cancer, heart disease, gastro issues. And that doesn't include the mental issues."
His hope is that a new contract would help Buffalo compete for recruits.
"Rochester Police, Syracuse and the Erie County Sheriff are all scheduling tests and recruiting. We're trying to reach the same pool, but we're behind the eight ball," Davidson said. "Buffalo pays less, and has less desirable hours. When we compete with suburban districts, they also make more, have nicer cars and their benefits are better. It's really difficult. Buffalo should be the marquee agency, but now we're an afterthought when it comes to hiring."
Asked about his level of optimism toward reaching a contract, Davidson says he is not overly optimistic.
The city is managing talks with eight different municipal bargaining units. All eight of the unions are working without contracts.
The PBA is one of eight municipal unions in Buffalo working without a contract
The PBA is one of eight municipal unions in Buffalo working without a contract
