Amherstburg Mayor Aldo DiCarlo says the town is unlikely to be on the hook for severance should current officers decline positions with the Windsor Police Service in the coming weeks.
An arbitrator ruled Amherstburg police officers who see shortcomings in the Windsor Police Services employment offer could receive severance for four weeks per year of service — but DiCarlo says they can't just quit and take the money.
He tells AM800 News the wording in the collective agreement only allows for severance if the officer is asked to take less to remain on the job.
"If the town does not equalize and provide better or equal ranking compensation salary, then severances would kick-in," he says. "If the town is then providing all those equalizations, then our position is the severance doesn't kick in."
Excerpt from the Amherstburg Police Services and Windsor Police Services arbitration ruling. Oct. 17, 2018. (Photo courtesy of the Town of Amherstburg)
Police Board Chair Bob Rozankovic says the town could take $2.5-million hit if up to six officers took severance packages, something DiCarlo says still wouldn't put a dent in the overall cost-benefits.
"We maintain the position that if we equalize everything in the two contracts there will be no severance," says DiCarlo. "Short of that, there is $14-million, $15-million in savings over the 20-year life of the contract, if there were severances that had to be paid, there would still be savings to the town no matter what."
The arbitrator also ruled anyone who takes a pay-cut will receive equalization pay for two years.
Amherstburg officers will be presented with an offer October 27, they'll have two weeks to make a decision.
— with files from AM800's Rob Hindi.