|
Negotiations Update
By:Dieter C.
Dammeier
LACKIE & DAMMEIER
As the summer months come to an end, more negotiation
tables wrap up for associations whose MOU’s expire June 30th. Our
greatest tool at the table continues to be the increasingly competitive
marketplace for law enforcement personnel. Employers that wish to hire
the best and brightest from the shrinking pool of candidates understand
that to do so they must provide better salary, benefits and working
conditions than their competitors. Below are a few more associations I
was excited about helping reach successful conclusions in their contract
negotiations.
Los Angeles
Schools POA – 1-Year Reopener (10% Salary Increase)
POA President James Ream worked very hard to
deliver this agreement for his members. When dealing with such a large
employer as the LAUSD, it is necessary to work every angle available to
get the School Board to take you seriously. Like many places, LAUSDPD
is having recruitment and retention problems. Ream made this a very
public topic. This culminated in several hundred people showing up at a
School Board meeting to ask the Board to prioritize public safety. This
pubic showing included PORAC President Ron Cottingham and Vice President
Mike Durant attending this meeting to voice PORAC’s support of its
members. Within days a deal was inked providing a 10% salary increase
retroactive for one year.
Inglewood
POA – 3 Year MOU (18% Salary Increase, 2.5% POST Pay Increase)
With
negotiations led by Inglewood POA leaders Loyd Waters and Gred Held, the
police officers for Inglewood were able to obtain significant increases
to their pay. The three-year agreement calls for an increase in salary
of 18% (10% in year 1, 3% in year 2 and 5% in year 3) In addition, POST
Certificate Pay was increased by an additional 2.5%, making an
Intermediate Certificate worth 7.5% and an Advanced Certificate worth
12.5%. Longevity Pay was increased to provide 3% for each five years of
service, maximizing at 15% after 25 years. Motor and FTO pay was
increased from 6% to 8% and the Holiday bank was increased from 112
hours to 130 hours per year. Under the new MOU, an officer with an
Intermediate or Advanced POST Certificate will receive an increase of
20.5% over the next 24 months.
San Gabriel POA – 2
Year MOU (17% Depending on POST Level)
The
City of San Gabriel continues to show its prioritization of public
safety in its most recent MOU with the SGPOA. POA President Jeff
Whitney worked well to convince the City where its priorities should be,
taking care of his members. After several meetings with the City a
two-year deal was agreed upon. The agreement calls for 4% in salary
increases each of the two years. Of significance was agreement by the
City to provide an additional 4% to be put into each officers deferred
compensation account. In addition, the City agreed to provide POST
Certificate Pay of 3% (Intermediate) and 5% (Advanced) previously only
paid in conjunction with Education Pay. Finally, uniform allowance was
increased from $790 to $1,200 per year.
Negotiation
tables continue to look promising. As always, I look forward to
reporting to you more significant increases in coming months.
About the Author:
Dieter C. Dammeier of Lackie & Dammeier is an LDF panel attorney and the
firm’s specialist in contract negotiations. |
