Police unions bash pension bill

The state Fraternal Order of Police came out this morning against the House bill that ties desperately-needed Philadelphia budget issues to sweeping changes in the state's pension system.

FOP Pennsylvania State Lodge President Les Neri said House Bill 1828, which calls for a state-takeover of severely distressed pension funds and removes significant pension benefits from collective bargaining, threatens thousands of police officers and firefighters' retirements and "ends 40 years of collective bargaining."

Neri chided the Senate for ramming major changes in the matter of a few weeks, tied to Philadelphia's request for a 1-cent per dollar increase in its sales tax, and changes to its own pension system.

Both the FOP and state Professional Firefighters Association have come out against the bill, which is drawing heat from organized labor across the board.

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