Negotiations for the San Antonio Police Division union contract have entered a slower, extra technical part after the town delivered its first counteroffer to the San Antonio Police Officers’ Affiliation on Friday.
The second bargaining session ended with the town and union negotiators tentatively agreeing to a few proposals and shifting unresolved points — together with well being care, tuition reimbursement and dealing hours — into small working teams, setting the stage for extra detailed discussions forward of the following full bargaining session on March 26.
Whereas the assembly produced motion on procedural gadgets, it additionally clarified the central divide shaping the talks: how aggressive pay is outlined and the way a lot the town is prepared to decide to officer pay and advantages over the following three years.
Metropolis counteroffer on compensation
A key precept of SAPOA’s preliminary proposal focuses on rising officer compensation, which the union stated would shut a rising pay hole between San Antonio and different Texas cities.
SAPOA’s preliminary request referred to as for a 9% across-the-board elevate for all officers, paired with further hourly wage will increase and adjustments to advantages. When the proposal is taken as a complete — together with hourly wage will increase, incentive pay and expanded well being care contributions — metropolis workers estimated the price of the full wage proposal at roughly $155 million over three years, in keeping with figures introduced throughout negotiations.
Metropolis officers final Friday countered with 8.5%, which displays solely across-the-board wage will increase and doesn’t tackle the hourly pay construction proposed by SAPOA, which the town stated requires additional evaluation.
Town argued that whereas SAPOA’s preliminary proposal in contrast base salaries throughout related markets, complete compensation must be used because the metric for comparability as a substitute.
On the identical time, the town introduced a newly commissioned compensation examine performed by PFM Consulting Group on the bargaining assembly, which compares San Antonio police pay to different giant Texas cities. The examine exhibits that San Antonio officers path friends in base pay alone, however rank greater when advantages like incentive pay, longevity, well being care and pension contributions are included.
Assistant Metropolis Supervisor Maria Villagómez, who’s main negotiations for the town, stated negotiators are amenable to a three-year contract in precept, however would preserve the subject open for dialogue till an settlement on wages is reached.
“We need to have a greater understanding of their place and this hourly enhance that they requested and the will increase to incentive pay. So we are able to higher perceive their pursuits and the place they need to land,” Villagómez stated. ”It’s necessary to us and I feel it’s necessary to the affiliation to extend base pay.”
The union’s request for a rise to Well being Financial savings Accounts that will elevate the present metropolis contribution of $1,500 yearly to half of the IRS most contribution restrict of $4,375 may even proceed to be mentioned alongside compensation in working teams.
Villagómez stated the counter displays each the dimensions of the union’s proposal and the town’s broader monetary image. She stated the town’s method is rooted in balancing competitiveness with long-term sustainability since San Antonio remains to be early in its monetary forecasting course of for the following funds cycle.
“We need to keep aggressive with the opposite cities however we now have to steadiness it with the realities of our funds,” Villagómez stated. “Now we have to remember that no matter we land on the finish of the negotiations must be inexpensive for functions of the funds.”
Base pay stays central
SAPOA President Danny Diaz stated the union understands the town’s complete compensation framing — however doesn’t consider it resolves officer’s considerations about base pay.
“It’s a core concern, we need to keep akin to what different main cities are getting paid,” Diaz stated. “As the town admitted on Friday we’re lower than par with different cities and that’s what we’re attempting to do.”
Diaz acknowledged the full compensation examine however stated SAPOA was taking the town’s counteroffer with a grain of salt and shifting ahead to see what they will work out within the subsequent spherical of negotiations.
“You need to be affected person with stuff like this. Now we have our consultants, they’ve theirs after which we mix and discuss issues over,” he stated. ”I don’t have a response but. We travel in bargaining till we come to a finalized settlement.”
Diaz added that he hopes on the finish of negotiations, the town will perceive the proposal SAPOA has introduced addresses a slew of points the division is at the moment going through.
“At that time, hopefully, the town realizes that what was given to them is a proposal that fixes a variety of the problems that we now have,” he stated. “We’re retention, seniority, maintaining individuals thinking about coming to work right here and being akin to different departments.”
When requested concerning the metropolis’s considerations over budgetary constraints, Diaz pointed to phrases negotiated by different departments and doing proper by his membership and SAPD officers.
“It’s a complete package deal. For me it’s, ‘What’s the perfect that we are able to get for our members and future officers?’” he stated. “However we additionally take a look at what the town is attempting to perform and we all know what’s been given to different departments, to civilians and firefighters. We’re trying to be comparable.”
Early agreements, subsequent steps
Negotiators reached tentative agreements on Articles 18, 21 and 22, which have been signed throughout the session.
These provisions largely tackle procedural and administrative points.
Either side agreed to maneuver a number of unresolved areas into working teams, together with: pay and well being care, hours of labor and scheduling and tuition reimbursement and certifications.
Diaz referred to as the working teams a productive step for change the place SAPOA can present the worth their proposals carry to the police pressure and the group.
“There [are] issues that have to be fastened within the division and this can be a approach to do it,” he stated. “Now we have to take a seat and discuss and get it taken care of. Now we have to point out that these proposals are in the perfect curiosity of not solely our officers however the group itself.”
Between now and the following formal bargaining session on March 26 — 5 days earlier than the 60-day negotiation window required beneath state legislation is ready to run out — a lot of the substantive work will happen outdoors the bargaining room, as working teams meet and either side put together revised language and value estimates.
No choices shall be made on the working teams, however they set the stage for the upcoming March assembly.
Diaz stated he wouldn’t be shocked if talks lengthen past that date, noting the potential of a 15-day extension, if wanted — however stated he doesn’t anticipate negotiations to pull out the best way previous police contracts have.
“It could be good if we might get it performed, however sadly, we don’t reside in an ideal world and I wouldn’t maintain my breath on it,” he stated. “We’re in a great place, the place we’re speaking and talks haven’t slowed down like they’ve in earlier years, so, we’ll see.”
