Cops and City Still Far Apart, Even After Contract is Ratified

A statement released by the Benicia Police Officers Association after they changes in their MOU (contract) outlines how officers and sergeants have taken nearly $15,000 in pay cuts over the past two years and criticizes the City for "mismanagement and failure to address other savings opportunities."

To see the full statement, click .

According to the BPOA statement, late last year the lead negotiator for the city told the BPOA negotiation team, "The city wants the BPOA to have difficulty paying their mortgages."  The union claims one-third of its members lost their homes or were forced to short sell.

The statement goes on to say the City shouldn't have hired two new officers right after they used the threat of layoffs to reopen contract talks.

"That's their opinion," said City Manager Brad Kilger, speaking on behalf of the City and the City Council on Monday. "The council has made it clear from the very beginning that the goal of the negotiations was to fix structural problems."

One area of disagreement between the two parties is health insurance. The unioin claims the city could save money by offering the CalPERS plan, but Kilger said it's not as simple as switching plans.

"It would have taken several months to implement it," said Kilger.  "There is a cost to the city that's not included in their statement."

Another complaint of the union is Benicia's use of a professional negotiator. "It's not uncommon in these type negotiations to have a professional negotiator," said Kilger, while noting that BPOA had a professional negotiator on its side of the table.

When asked about the size of the cuts Benicia Police Officers Association members have had to absorb over the past two years Kilger said, “They (City Council) wanted to make structural changes to employee compensation, not short term Band-Aids.”

The City also continues to meet with the Benicia Firefighters regarding their salary and benefits package. Kilger refused to comment on progress because the two parties are still negotiating with the help of a mediator.