Is this Contract a Joke (Homestead)

Quite a sacrifice by the union members–giving up a cost of living increase when there is no increase in the cost of living.  Also, Homestead pays almost 60 percent of its budget to the police!

Under the new contract, which will be in place until September 2012, union members will forego a cost of living increase but will be spared from layoffs for at least the next year. The agreement also entitles union members to an automatic raise — if the local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers negotiate in increase for their members — and increases base pay by 5 percent for any lieutenant who gets assigned to the detective bureau.

via Homestead and police union reach contract – Homestead / South Dade – MiamiHerald.com.