Pittsburgh police officers decided Thursday they will work off-duty security jobs during this year's St. Patrick's Day festivities after they initially considered refusing the extra work in protest of what some see as unfair treatment by the city.

Members of the city's police union will air their grievances instead by marching in the March 12 parade wearing shirts that "show solidarity for our officers" and handing out leaflets that detail their complaints, said Fraternal Order of Police President Dan O'Hara.

The union met for three hours in a shelter at Banksville Park, where members decided that boycotting off-duty work at bars and venues where St. Patrick's Day revelers frequent would "target the businesses who support us and also the residents, who, quite frankly, aren't the problem here," Mr. O'Hara said. "We'd never jeopardize the city's safety."

The parade and celebrations that follow draw tens of thousands of people and last year ended in at least six arrests. More than 130 extra officers were on duty during and after last year's parade, while other officers worked off-duty security at bars in Market Square and the South Side.

Mr. O'Hara said at least 200 extra officers will work the parade and bar details this year.

"The officers will be out in full force, doing what we always do," he said.

In a Monday memo to union members, he wrote that officers could refuse extra work on parade day and "possibly at major future city events" as a stand against "the continued treatment of our members as second-class employees by the city of Pittsburgh." He said Thursday that officers have a host of gripes, but declined to elaborate.

Union leaders have said they are upset by the city's refusal to reinstate fired police Sgt. Eugene Hlavac, who later was found not guilty of domestic violence, and some recent scheduling issues.

But Mr. O'Hara said, "This isn't about one issue. There's a central theme, that the city is not respecting our overall rights as officers."

Officers will march wearing T-shirts that Mr. O'Hara said aren't political but generally show solidarity among police officers. They hope their efforts will move the public to pressure city leaders to better support police.