Julia Burdelski at Trib Total Media reports a dozen Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Police Commanders are Unionizing. Commanders are among the Police Bureau’s most powerful Supervisors, just under the rank of Assistant Chief. The Commanders unanimously voted to form a Union with the Teamsters, separate from the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 1 Bargaining Unit that represents Rank-and-File Officers. Commander Shawn Malloy, who runs the City’s Zone 1 station on the North Side, said Commanders’ contracts now do not include guaranteed benefits like paid time off and health insurance. Unionizing, Malloy said, could create clearer benefit agreements, adding he hoped Unionizing would make Commander-level job posts more attractive to Lieutenants, who are one step below in the pecking order and may want to seek a promotion.
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