San Jose dodged an expensive and lengthy arbitration process after finally striking a tentative deal with the San Jose police officers association, whose union contract has been expired for nearly seven months. The union made some deep concessions, agreeing to smaller wage increases and dropping the enhanced benefits they were going after, which they argued would help retain skilled officers.
The city has been tangled in harsh negotiations with the POA, which was pushing the process to arbitration. But Bobby Lopez says the union backed off arbitration in consideration of the city’s $65 million budget shortfall and other financial woes.
The POA isn’t 100 percent satisfied with the contract, but they are well, taking the high road. “We didn’t want to be accused of being the greedy filthy cops that everyone thinks we are,” Lopez said.
Mayor Chuck Reed cast the deal in a glowing light, thanking the POA for taking steps to “improve San José’s already competitive position ... as we seek to recruit new officers from the small pool of individuals who are able to meet our high standards.”
Significantly, the mayor also commended the union “for being the first bargaining unit in the City to tackle the tough issue of the unfunded liability for retiree health care benefits.”
And still, I’m sure, the left in our fine city will find a way to demonize the police union for taking a wage increase. For those of you who care, it is less than the cost of living, and subpar for the industry. Every contract police wage or benefits are below industry standards because the CSJ manages to parade out a new reason why the POA has to help the city this time. Of course this never stopped city hall from building a Taj Mahal that includes the largest glass dome in the world! Of course we NEEDED that. Still the POA took a weak contract then. Eventually the POA will have the leadership that will let an arbitrator decide what is fair. It is no wonder SJPD officers are leaving to other agencies and recruits are going elsewhere. Care less? Well next time you call 911 and have to wait you’ll understand how it effects you…
Kudos to the POA leadership and if ratified, to all the rank and file officers. I just read the Merc article on the settlement and that part about shouldering the current and future health care costs with increased conributions from employees is HUGE.
From the article “the officers would see their retiree health care contribution rates rise over five years, from 3.78 to 9.44 percent of their base pay.” Think about what a huge deal that really is to have the officers take that hit because they care not only about their own future benefits when retired but about the health and welfare of the city as a whole that other newer officers will be left to handle when they leave the force.
I was one that personally thought Police and Firefighters had probably gotten too greedy in the post-911 rush to secure ourselves and cashed in to much, but this one action wipes away all those doubts, concerns and fears. this is about the future and I feel better already knowing there’s working partnerships operating rationally between labor and management in at least this area of city government.
I don’t know if AFSCME and the other unions who don’t have a contract up for renewal would be willing to entertain contract amendments towards the same end, sharing the pain and assuring the future health of the city for all. I for one think that they could at least entertain not accepting contract mandated COLAs (Cost of Living Adjustments) as current economic data suggests we’re actually experiencing deflation instead of inflation as a result of the economic meltdown. Would you rather have a 3-5 percent raise and be the last man standing after brutal layoffs or voluntarily propose a contract amendment to help share the paid and balance the budget in this hard year?
Thank you SJPD for showing leadership and courage (assuming the membership ratifies the agreement.)
This doesn’t surprise me at all. Sgt. Lopez is a fair and wonderful guy who represents the needs of his men/women well. The POA is very lucky to have him as President.