City Council Approves Raises for Police and Other City Workers.

The San Diego City Council today approved amendments to five-year contracts with each of the city’s six labor unions.

Members of the San Diego Police Officers Association will receive a non-pensionable 2 percent raise in fiscal year 2014, a 1 percent raise the following fiscal year and 2 percent more in 2016, under the agreement.

“San Diego police officers are still underpaid compared to other cities that are comparable and I believe that we will continue to lose officers going forward regardless of this contract or any other stop-gap measures that might be introduced,” Councilwoman Marti Emerald said.

SDPOA Secretary Tom Bostedt said the relationship between the union and the council could be built upon to resolve problems facing recruitment and retention efforts.

“Although many issues still persist regarding to the department’s retention and recruitment issues, this MOU represents a first step in the right direction,” Bostedt said.

On Oct. 30, the council's Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee will consider reopening contract talks with the city’s police, firefighters and lifeguards, Emerald said.

Also approved was the elimination of a 32-hour furlough for members of the Deputy City Attorneys Association in fiscal year 2014. They'll also receive a 0.2 percent salary increase next year and a 1.75 percent raise in fiscal years 2015 and 2016.

The International Association of Fire Fighters Local 145, San Diego City Fire Fighters will get a 2.25 percent raise in fiscal year 2014, another 1.25 percent in 2015 and a 1.75 percent raise in 2016.

Members of the California Teamsters Local 911 will have a 52-hour furlough and a 2.3 percent retirement offset contribution for employees hired before July 1, 2009, eliminated in fiscal year 2014, and will get a 2.25 percent increase in 2014, 1.25 more in 2015 and 1.75 percent more in 2016.

Members of Local 127 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will receive non-pensionable compensation increases of 1.75 percent for fiscal years 2014 through 2016.

Workers represented by the San Diego Municipal Employees’ Association will have a 52-hour furlough eliminated in fiscal year 2014, along with a 0.4 percent retirement offset contribution. The remaining 26 furlough hours will be eliminated in 2015. They will receive a 1.75 percent raise for fiscal years 2014 through 2016.

— City News Service