LEEBA No Match

To the Editor:

THE CHIEF-LEADER's coverage of the so-called Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association (Feb. 16 issue) proves once and for all that this pretender organization would be disastrous for the peace officers currently well-represented by Teamsters Local 237.

As The Chief's article indicates, LEEBA has virtually no membership or financial strength to speak of. It nearly doubled the dues of the DEP officers who fell into its lap. LEEBA has no welfare fund of its own. Kenneth Wynder, the "president" of this paper organization, admits that he needs the dues dollars of Local 237 members - whose dues he would also nearly double - to make LEEBA into a real organization.

Wynder reveals that he hasn't done his research. He calls Local 237 a "housing-dominated" union, but in fact Local 237 has more peace officers than housing members. In any event, all Local 237 members are proud of the diverse titles we represent.

Finally, Wynder has been a wallflower during historic fights recently waged by Local 237. Our secretary-treasurer, Greg Floyd, spearheaded an historic campaign which resulted in our School Safety Officers winning full, competitive civil service status. While Wynder yammers about separate bargaining for law-enforcement members, Greg Floyd has already won this fight. Recently, OLR acknowledged it will bargain separately with Local 237 law-enforcement members.

Of course, Wynder was nowhere to be found when Local 237 spent close to $1 million to block privatization of the Hospital Police. Where, pray tell, would LEEBA have found the money for that campaign?

All labor organizations have their issues. But Local 237 members have the best welfare fund, financial strength and a great international union to back us up. Ken Wynder only has his own, apparently limitless, personal ambition.

DIANE HOGAN, Hospital Police Lieutenant