By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The state's highest court has rejected a request to hear an appeal by the Buffalo Police union that challenges the city's wage freeze.
The Court of Appeals delivered its ruling Tuesday. An earlier court decision that police raises due in 2004 should be exempt from wage freeze imposed by the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority was overturned. That prompted the appeal by the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association.
PBA President Robert Meegan told WBFO News he is disappointed, but not surprised. Meegan says he believes the city is "flush with money."
"They've been hiding money. They've been purposely misleading the public," Meegan said. "If the city doesn't lift the wage freeze, we're going to have to explore other options. Whatever we decide to do, everybody will be made well aware of it."
But Meegan would not elaborate on the union's options in fighting the control board's wage freeze.