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Negotiations Update
By:Dieter C.
Dammeier
LACKIE & DAMMEIER
The
end of 2006 continued with positive economic indicators in our State and
local economies. With this foundation, police officer associations are
settling more lucrative contracts with their employing agencies. I am
happy to report on three more associations I represent that have
successfully completed negotiations.
Inglewood
POA – 3-Year MOU (14.5% Plus Other Benefits)
Inglewood POA, led by outgoing president Loyd
Waters and new president Greg Held, negotiated a unique deal in the City
of Inglewood. Although the City of Inglewood has significant revenue,
that revenue has not always been well managed. As a result, City
finances were spread thin and City Hall was very reluctant to provide
significant increases to its police officers. The City was in the
process of putting on the Ballot a local one-half cent sales tax
increase. With that in mind, the POA took a gamble that paid off. It
was agreed that if the tax passed, the officers would receive a signing
bonus of 4% of their annually pay in year one and in years two and
three, they would receive a 4% increase in salary each year. Also
hinged to the tax increase was a significant increase in POST pay, from
a flat $200 per month for an Intermediate Certificate to 7.5% and from a
flat $400 per month for an Advanced Certificate to 12.5%. Uniform
Allowance went from $825 per year to $1,050 and an additional Longevity
Step was added. In November, the voters of Inglewood passed the sales
tax increase and the MOU went into effect.
Culver City POA – 3-Year
MOU (13%
Salary Increase Plus Other Benefits and $5,000 Signing Bonus)
Culver City officers enjoy one of the highest
compensation packages in Southern California based on a salary
initiative ordinance that requires their salary to be increased
automatically upon salary adjustments for the Los Angeles Police
Department or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. After tense
negotiations and disputes over the City’s economic position, an MOU
through June of 2009 was agreed upon. The MOU calls for salary
increases of 13%, a 1% increase in POST Certificate pay to 9.5% for an
Intermediate Certificate, 12.5% for an Advanced Certificate, and 15.5%
for a Supervisory Certificate (not previously paid). Of significant
note was the record high signing bonus obtained for all unit members in
the amount of $5,000 upon ratification of the MOU. Negotiations became
heated over the City’s demand that current retirees begin paying 5% of
their medical insurance premiums. To make it even more difficult for
the POA, the Firefighters Association agreed to this proposal leaving
the POA alone to fight the battle. Fortunately, the POA, led by its
President, Jim Raetz, maintained its ground to protect its retirees from
any cuts in their retiree medical coverage.
L.A. County POA
– 3-Year MOU (15.5% Salary Increase Plus Other
Benefits)
A never easy negotiations, the Los Angeles
Police Officers Association led by its President, Scott Frayer, was able
to secure significant increases for its members. The contract calls for
a 15.5% increase over the life of the three-year MOU with 4%
immediately, 5.75% during the second year, and 5.75% during the third
year. LACPOA was also able to increase bonus pay positions to include
its four canine handlers and two boat operators. Uniform pay was also
increased from $600 to $1,000 annually.
At the number of negotiation tables I am
currently at, 2007 promises to be a prosperous year for POA’s. Part of
what is driving these increases is the fierce competition between cities
to attract and maintain the best quality officers it can. Those cities
that wish to hire and keep the best are forced to recognize the business
reality that in order to do so they must also pay the best. I look
forward to reporting on further contracts throughout the year.
About
the author: Dieter C. Dammeier is the chief negotiator at Lackie &
Dammeier, representing their clients at the bargaining table throughout
Southern California. |
