Contract Talks

Negotiators representing dockworkers and their employers in East Coast ports broke off contract talks a day early yesterday, as the two sides apparently made little progress toward an agreement to replace the contract that expires Nov. 30.The master contract talks in Tampa, Fla., involve wage rates and work rules governing cargo moved in containers, metal boxes the size of truck trailers that are used to carry the most valuable kinds of goods, from shoes...

The union representing Annapolis police officers has asked the Anne Arundel Circuit Court to order the city to negotiate with the officers and block the city from passing the department's budget until after contract talks are completed.The suit, filed yesterday, also seeks court costs and at least $10,000 in damages. It alleges that city officials have stalled negotiations with Local 400 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, which represents the city's 116 officers.City officials say they have offered to meet with the union and are ready to bargain.

Contract talks between Police Department commanders and the union representing Baltimore officers are at a standstill as negotiators struggle over pay, sick days and floating holidays.The contract that expired Monday has been extended 30 days. But the two sides have not met since Friday, and no further talks have been scheduled. The force has 3,200 officers.Officer Gary McLhinney, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3, said prospects for a quick settlement appear grim. "We're exploring all our options to see legally what we can do and force the city into giving their police officers an acceptable contract," he said.

Both sides are happy with the trade, but neither the Orioles nor Glenn Davis are in any hurry to talk about a new contract.In that regard the only thing certain is that Davis will be the Orioles' highest paid player this coming season. Whether his salary is determined by negotiation or arbitration remains to be seen, but it almost certainly will be in the vicinity of $3 million. Cal Ripken, who is in the final year of a three-year contract that averages $2.3 million, is currently the Orioles' highest-paid player.

Unable to agree on work schedules and benefits for Howard County police union officers after six weeks of contract talks, county officials and union representatives have asked an arbitrator to help resolve their differences.The two sides hope to revive negotiations next week, but police union sources said the county must be more flexible to keep the average police officer interested in working in Howard County."The bottom line is we want our officers to stay here," said James Fitzgerald, president of the Howard County Police Officers Association.

The stress dots that many school officials happened to be wearing on the backs of their hands for "Wellness Week" didn't betray much tension during the first round of contract talks Wednesday through Friday.When money enters the picture this week, the plastic adhesive-backed novelties -- similar to the mood rings of the 1970s -- might turn the green-to-black that signals high stress.But knowing full well there is little money available for raises this year, the unions are focusing on issues such as contract language, health insurance and family leave.

The Anne Arundel County firefighters union is expected to appeal a Circuit judge's decision Friday that rejected its bid for binding arbitration in contract talks.Andrew H. Kahn, lawyer for Local 1563 of Anne Arundel County Professional Firefighters, said he will ask the Court of Special Appeals to reverse Judge Lawrence H. Rushworth's denial of the request to order the county to arbitration.Rushworth ruled Friday afternoon that the county is not required to arbitrate its dispute with the firefighters and that the current union contract has the force of law because it was approved by a County Council vote May 30."

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Marvin Demoff, the agent for Ravens Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, said yesterday that Ogden is likely to sit in on the start of the negotiations for a new contract. "He's not the type of person who'd say, `Go bring me the numbers and then we'll talk about it.' He'll participate from the beginning. I might like to have him in there at the beginning so he'd get the flavor of what they're really thinking," he said. Demoff, who said he talked with Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens' vice president of player personnel, at the NFL meetings yesterday, said he expected the talks to take place between the end of the draft and the start of training camp.

Mike Mussina's negotiations for a long-term deal fell apart yesterday, greatly increasing the chances the Orioles ace pitcher will become a free agent after the 1997 season.With an arbitration hearing looming next week, Mussina's agent, Arn Tellem, and Orioles counsel Russell Smouse will attempt to negotiate a one-year contract today. Yesterday, Tellem flatly rejected what the Orioles are calling their best and final multi-year offer to Mussina.According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the Orioles offered a three-year deal for $20.55 million, with $3 million of that deferred, with no interest.

In 1990, Giant's truck drivers went on strike for wage increases. A few hours after the walkout began, founder Israel Cohen arrived at a store, saw the pickets, and immediately ordered the negotiators to give the drivers what they wanted -- to the penny.Giant Food Inc.'s image had always been that of a solid union company, negotiating more than 40 union contracts covering about 24,000 of its 28,000 employees. Its labor costs were among the highest in one of the most expensive regions in the country.