04-26-2007, 09:07 PM
City Of Miami Enters Agreement With Police Union
-New Agreement Provides for Higher Wages for Officers and Quality
Services
for Residents-
(Miami, FL.) --- The City of Miami Commission today ratified two
contracts
between the City of Miami and the Fraternal Order of Police, Walter E.
Headley, Jr., Miami Lodge No. 20, (FOP). The vote comes after sworn
police
union members ratified the contract earlier in the week. The
compensation
package increases salaries for police officers.
“The City values its police officers as they are critical to the
safety of
all who live, work and visit Miami,” said City Manager Pete
Hernandez. “In
addition to providing for our employees, we must also provide residents
with
the sustainable infrastructure and services they deserve. This wage and
benefit plan will bring us closer to meeting the needs of all people
committed to the City’s prosperity and growth for generations to
come.”
The wage increases will place the City in a more favorable position to
recruit and retain Police Officers as compared to other police
organizations
in neighboring municipalities. The agreements cover the period of
October 1,
2005, through September 30, 2007, and October 1, 2007, through
September 30,
2010.
“The first contract will certainly improve the City’s ability to
attract new
officers and reward our current highly qualified officers,” said
Rosalie
Mark, the City’s Director of Employee Relations. “In addition, if
efforts to
stabilize the City’s pension plan costs are successful, the resulting
change
in salaries will catapult the Miami Police Department to the number one
position for wages out of the 21 cities we survey.”
The first contract covers two years and will provide officers with an
8%
increase retroactive to October 1, 2005, and a 6% increase retroactive
to
October 1, 2006. The second contract is for three years and provides
for
across-the-board increases of 3% each of the following years. In
addition, a
new salary structure will be put into effect that will provide for 2.5%
“step” increases every six months for the first nine years of
employment
(previously the “step” increases were 5% every year through the
first 6
years of employment).
The City and the FOP have agreed to pursue changes to the provisions of
the
City of Miami Fire Fighters’ and Police Officers’ Trust (FIPO)
Defined
Pension plan and to develop and implement a contribution stabilization
fund
so that total contributions do not exceed 37% of pensionable payroll
for no
less than 10 years.
If the pension is stabilized, additional increases will be added
across-the-board, bringing the new salary levels to 6% effective
October 1,
2007, and 4% a year for the following two years. In addition, two new
2.5%
longevity steps will be added to the pay schedule, while the 5%
one-year-retroactive salary increase at retirement will be eliminated.
-New Agreement Provides for Higher Wages for Officers and Quality
Services
for Residents-
(Miami, FL.) --- The City of Miami Commission today ratified two
contracts
between the City of Miami and the Fraternal Order of Police, Walter E.
Headley, Jr., Miami Lodge No. 20, (FOP). The vote comes after sworn
police
union members ratified the contract earlier in the week. The
compensation
package increases salaries for police officers.
“The City values its police officers as they are critical to the
safety of
all who live, work and visit Miami,” said City Manager Pete
Hernandez. “In
addition to providing for our employees, we must also provide residents
with
the sustainable infrastructure and services they deserve. This wage and
benefit plan will bring us closer to meeting the needs of all people
committed to the City’s prosperity and growth for generations to
come.”
The wage increases will place the City in a more favorable position to
recruit and retain Police Officers as compared to other police
organizations
in neighboring municipalities. The agreements cover the period of
October 1,
2005, through September 30, 2007, and October 1, 2007, through
September 30,
2010.
“The first contract will certainly improve the City’s ability to
attract new
officers and reward our current highly qualified officers,” said
Rosalie
Mark, the City’s Director of Employee Relations. “In addition, if
efforts to
stabilize the City’s pension plan costs are successful, the resulting
change
in salaries will catapult the Miami Police Department to the number one
position for wages out of the 21 cities we survey.”
The first contract covers two years and will provide officers with an
8%
increase retroactive to October 1, 2005, and a 6% increase retroactive
to
October 1, 2006. The second contract is for three years and provides
for
across-the-board increases of 3% each of the following years. In
addition, a
new salary structure will be put into effect that will provide for 2.5%
“step” increases every six months for the first nine years of
employment
(previously the “step” increases were 5% every year through the
first 6
years of employment).
The City and the FOP have agreed to pursue changes to the provisions of
the
City of Miami Fire Fighters’ and Police Officers’ Trust (FIPO)
Defined
Pension plan and to develop and implement a contribution stabilization
fund
so that total contributions do not exceed 37% of pensionable payroll
for no
less than 10 years.
If the pension is stabilized, additional increases will be added
across-the-board, bringing the new salary levels to 6% effective
October 1,
2007, and 4% a year for the following two years. In addition, two new
2.5%
longevity steps will be added to the pay schedule, while the 5%
one-year-retroactive salary increase at retirement will be eliminated.