THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 11, 1994 TAG: 9406110332
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940611 LENGTH: NORFOLK
The settlement averages $13,500 per person, with the highest award at $33,193 and the lowest at $3,200.
{REST} For the financially troubled widow of one Norfolk Naval Base police officer who was about to lose her home, the news was greeted with tears. She is to receive $19,000 and will be able to stay in her house, a union official said.
This week's settlement follows five years of arbitration through the U.S. Department of Labor.
``Everyone is just ecstatic,'' said former police officer Ralph Brown, now business agent for Local 22 of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents the police officers. Brown led the effort to sue the Navy in 1989.
``There's one couple that will get $40,000, because both are police officers,'' Brown said. ``People are talking about finally fixing up their cars, or buying the wife and kids something. They are really thrilled.''
The payments are for lost wages from January 1986 to January 1993. During that period, the police officers were ordered to report for duty between 15 and 20 minutes early to pick up their weapons and other equipment and to change into uniforms.
Those were considered pre-shift duties, Brown said.
The officers also were required to work through their lunch periods on a regular basis, even though they did not receive pay for the 30- to 45-minute breaks, he said.
``That is an unfair labor act and constitutes overtime, but they were not paid for it,'' Brown said.
While the practice was condoned by the Navy for more than 20 years, the union was allowed to seek back wages for only six years. The suit was filed five years ago.
The Navy has since revised its policy. Police officers who are required to work during lunch or at other unscheduled times are to be compensated.
Rick Higgins, president of Local 22, picked up the government's check for $3,191,290.59 on Friday.
``Our lawyers are expected here on Wednesday to begin giving out the (individual) checks,'' said Higgins, whose own share will be about $11,000.
The amount of back pay depends on the length of time an officer served in a particular pay grade.
Brown, who left the police department in June 1991 and does not qualify for back pay, said the amount of money the government agreed to pay to the 180 employees matches what the Navy claims it owes. ``That is far short of what we have claimed,'' he said.
``We say there were some 330 people (entitled), and about $2 million more in back pay is owed them.'' In addition, the union will claim legal fees against the government, he said.
Brown has kept in touch with all the police officers, including the families of some who have died.
``I called the widow of one of the men and told her she would receive about $19,000,'' Brown said. ``She was crying and then, for a long time, there was nothing. I thought she had hung up. But she said she was about to lose her home and this would save it.
``We've never forgotten these people.''
{KEYWORDS} LAWSUIT U.S. NAVY SETTLEMENT POLICE OFFICERS
by CNB