No More Blue Flu In Atlantic City

There will be no more "blue flu" in Atlantic City.

The city obtained an injunction Sunday to block police officers from staging sickouts as a protest over stalled contract talks.

Superior Court Judge Vincent Segal issued the order after 41 officers called in sick for Sunday's day shift. That came one day after 34 officers did not report for the Saturday evening shift.

Police union officials said they didn't organize or condone the sickouts. In both instances, officers from the previous shifts worked overtime to cover for their colleagues.

Local 24 of the Policemen's Benevolent Association, the union that represents the department's officers, has been without a contract since January 2003.

The next round of contract talks is scheduled for Aug. 30.

Author: NBC10/AP