Short-Term Extension of Police Contract
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2023 11:51 am
Colleagues,
As you know, the City and the Austin Police Association are negotiating over a new contract. However, the March 31, 2023, expiration date of the current contract is rapidly approaching. About 250 APD officers are currently eligible to retire and face a February 26 deadline to file for retirement without potentially losing significant retirement-related benefits if the current meet and confer agreement ends without extension or replacement. The uncertainty surrounding the contract could lead these officers to retire early in order to preserve their benefits, resulting in the unnecessary loss of critical personnel. If the contract expires without any short- or long-term replacement, we also lose the oversight provisions, including the Office of Police Oversight.
At this late date, there is no proposed contract for us to review. We know that negotiations continue on major elements of the contract. We also know that both the City and the APA have represented they support oversight along the lines of the May ballot initiatives. The Austin City Charter guarantees the people the right to direct legislation; as elected representatives, it is our responsibility to protect the democratic process. To ensure that all parties can continue negotiating in good faith and achieve the best possible agreement, I am sponsoring a resolution directing the City Manager to negotiate a short-term contract for one year that extends and protects existing oversight provisions, officer pay and benefits, and respects the voters’ right to be heard.
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 114646.pdf
Otherwise, we risk being rushed into adopting a contract that neither our constituents nor rank-and-file APD officers have had the opportunity to read or understand. Even worse, a problematic contract could short-circuit the democratic process and prevent the will of the voters from being implemented for years to come.
We cannot miss this chance to have an effective and professional police force that meets the highest standards of integrity. Policing is one of the biggest and most costly responsibilities of the City. We must give all parties the breathing room necessary to do what is right, which requires urgent action to provide continuity, stability, and predictability for the public and our officers. The short-term contract with EMS is a good example of a stop-gap measure that allowed us to address immediate personnel needs while allowing negotiations to continue. I hope you will join me and my co-sponsors in supporting this resolution.
Saludos,
Chito
As you know, the City and the Austin Police Association are negotiating over a new contract. However, the March 31, 2023, expiration date of the current contract is rapidly approaching. About 250 APD officers are currently eligible to retire and face a February 26 deadline to file for retirement without potentially losing significant retirement-related benefits if the current meet and confer agreement ends without extension or replacement. The uncertainty surrounding the contract could lead these officers to retire early in order to preserve their benefits, resulting in the unnecessary loss of critical personnel. If the contract expires without any short- or long-term replacement, we also lose the oversight provisions, including the Office of Police Oversight.
At this late date, there is no proposed contract for us to review. We know that negotiations continue on major elements of the contract. We also know that both the City and the APA have represented they support oversight along the lines of the May ballot initiatives. The Austin City Charter guarantees the people the right to direct legislation; as elected representatives, it is our responsibility to protect the democratic process. To ensure that all parties can continue negotiating in good faith and achieve the best possible agreement, I am sponsoring a resolution directing the City Manager to negotiate a short-term contract for one year that extends and protects existing oversight provisions, officer pay and benefits, and respects the voters’ right to be heard.
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 114646.pdf
Otherwise, we risk being rushed into adopting a contract that neither our constituents nor rank-and-file APD officers have had the opportunity to read or understand. Even worse, a problematic contract could short-circuit the democratic process and prevent the will of the voters from being implemented for years to come.
We cannot miss this chance to have an effective and professional police force that meets the highest standards of integrity. Policing is one of the biggest and most costly responsibilities of the City. We must give all parties the breathing room necessary to do what is right, which requires urgent action to provide continuity, stability, and predictability for the public and our officers. The short-term contract with EMS is a good example of a stop-gap measure that allowed us to address immediate personnel needs while allowing negotiations to continue. I hope you will join me and my co-sponsors in supporting this resolution.
Saludos,
Chito