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Negotiations Update
By:Dieter C.
Dammeier
LACKIE & DAMMEIER
As the mid-year approaches, negotiations become a focal point of many
associations whose MOU expires June 30, and this year is no different.
With the increasingly competitive marketplace for law enforcement
personnel, employers are being forced into more generous salary and
benefit packages to compete for the shrinking pool of candidates. Below
are a few more associations I was able to help reach successful
conclusions in their contract negotiations.
Westminster
POA – 4-Year MOU (17% Salary Increase Plus Other Benefits)
Westminster POA was
successful in convincing the City of the need to be more competitive in
the marketplace for law enforcement. Accordingly, a four year agreement
was reached calling for officers’ salary to be increased 17%,
implemented with a 5% increase in year one, 4% in year two, 4% in year
three and the final 4% in year four. Other ranks represented by the
Association were adjusted in a similar fashion based on comparative
salary surveys with other local agencies. Other significant benefits
were also negotiated including an increase in FTO pay from $1 per hour
to $3 per hour, doubling of the bilingual pay to $150 per month and
expanding the requisite languages. The medical cafeteria plan was
increased $50 to $942 per month with a re-opener in the third year of
the contract to discuss further increases if necessary. Fortunately,
Westminster already enjoys one of the best retiree medical programs that
includes full coverage for the employee and spouse for the life of the
employee and surviving spouse.
Compton
Schools POA – 1 Year MOU (15% Salary Increase)
With negotiations led by Compton School Police Association
President Calvin Blakely, the police officers for the Compton Unified
School District were able to obtain another significant increase to
their pay. Blakely worked behind the scenes well in painting the
picture to the School Board on the recruitment and retention issues they
were having in today’s current climate in law enforcement. His hard
work resulted in the officers receiving a one-year contract increasing
salary a total of 15% and increasing the medical cafeteria plan by
$200. Since it was only a one year deal, retroactive to July 2006, this
put us in the position of immediately being back at the table for the
next increase.
Mono County
Sheriff’s Association – 2 Year MOU (11-18.5% Depending on POST Level)
After several meetings with County officials and debates
over comparison agencies, salary surveys and the marketplace, Mono DSA
obtained a favorable package for its members. The agreed upon terms
provide for a two-year contract with a 5% salary increase in year one,
and a year two salary increase equal to the consumer price index plus 2%
(expected to be between 5-6%). Added to this salary increase was a
significant increase in POST and Education Pay, increasing Intermediate
POST Certificate Pay from 2.5% to 5% and Advanced POST Certificate Pay
from 5% to 12.5%. Uniform allowance was also increased from $780 to
$1,000 per year. On medical coverage, the County finally agreed to
provide full medical coverage, eliminating the potential for deputies to
have to be paying out of pocket when premium increases hit.
Monterey Park
POA – 4 Year MOU (21.5% Salary Plus Other Benefits)
In one of the more contentious negotiations I have had this
year, Monterey Park POA obtained a significant increases in salary and
benefits after several months of contract negotiations. The four-year
MOU which is retroactive to July of 2006 calls for salary increases of
6% retroactive to year one, 5.5% in year two, 5% in year three and an
additional 5% in year four. Special Assignment Pay for Detectives and
other specialized assignments was doubled from $100 per month to $200
per month and FTO’s were added to specialized assignments, thereby being
eligible for the $200 per month regardless of whether they had a trainee
or not. Minimum Court Pay, Call-out Pay, and Standby Pay were all
increased from a minimum of two hours of overtime to three hours of
overtime. Medical premium coverage was increased $75 per year of the
contract to $925.
Negotiation tables continue to look promising during the summer months.
As always, I look forward to reporting to you more significant increases
in coming months. |
