Kettering police union, city closer to deal after vote

Kettering and KETTERING — its police department union are one step closer to reaching a contract deal.

The city council voted unanimously Tuesday night to accept the findings of an outside party regarding collective bargaining issues with the Fraternal Order of Police Kettering Lodge No. 92 that have been presented to the State Employment Relations Board.

The council’s vote is part of a process that permits either party to reject the fact-finder’s decision and then enter into conciliation with an arbitrator that results in binding arbitration.

Det. Ryan Vandegrift, FOP president, said after the meeting that this was an important part of the ongoing process and paves the way to avoid arbitration.

“There is still voting that needs to be done by the FOP, but this does help in the process in terms of getting things resolved,” said Vandegrift, who added that he would not be able to go into the details of the collective bargaining because it is an ongoing process.

City Manager Mark Schwieterman said the collective bargaining process is ongoing and on Friday the fact-finder’s report was received and the recommendation was to accept its findings.

The city is dealing with another SERB case regarding its fire department union. The case is headed to arbitration to settle on a new contact for the fire captains unit after city council in June rejected a fact-finder’s recommendations for contract terms.

Schwieterman said that the city and the Kettering Professional firefighters IAFF Local 2150 have been engaged in collective bargaining negotiations regarding the captains unit since November 2017, and mediation sessions were held in January and February of this year.

Attorney Stephen S. Lazarus, who is representing the union, said the issue will now be settled by arbitrator.

“Now, we must get a list of arbitrators and select one and then get a date,” he said. “This part of the process could take at least a couple of months before it gets started.”

Both parties will work under the existing contract terms while negotiations continue.

Several members of the FOP police Lodge 92 and their families turned out Monday night, as well as Kettering Professional firefighters IAFF Local 2150 members and their families. Contact this reporter at 513483-5249 or email Wayne. Baker@coxinc.com.