PITTSBURGH — Multiple sources tell Target 11 Investigator Rick Earle that the Pittsburgh Police Officer Union and the City of Pittsburgh have reached a tentative contract agreement after a months-long stalemate.
In September, the Mayor’s office sent the union its final best offer, but union members voted that contract down.
A couple of weeks ago, the Police Officers Union revised some of the languages in the Mayor’s proposal and sent the offer back to the city.
On Monday morning, Mayor Ed Gainey, along with members of his administration, met with the president of the union and signed the tentative agreement.
That agreement includes the hefty raises the Mayor initially proposed back in September.
A first-year officer would see a nearly 25% increase in pay, and a Lieutenant would get a 6 percent raise. Other ranks would see percentage raises in between those numbers.
One of the sticking points for officers had been the disciplinary language in the Mayor’s proposal.
The union revised that by specifically outlining the exact disciplinary action officers will face for certain violations.
The proposed contract still includes termination without arbitration for certain serious offenses.
Some union members had objected to that part of the contract.
One officer told Earle it’s the best contract he’s seen in more than 20 years on the job, and he said he’s optimistic that union members will support it.
Earle spoke with Union President, Robert Swartzwelder, by phone Monday afternoon and he declined to comment until the contract is ratified.
Earle also reached out to the Mayor’s office for comment and he had not heard back.
The Police Union, which represents approximately 800 members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, is set to vote on the contract next week
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