Allentown Police, City Agree to Four-Year Contract

From Allentown: The City of Allentown and FOP Lodge #10 have reached agreement on a four year contract extension.

The pact covers the period between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022 and includes annual wage increases of 3-percent. The rest of the existing contract provisions remain the same. The existing three year contract, which was reached through arbitration, expires December 31, 2018.

“I want to thank the union for the spirit in which they entered into the give and take that makes-up collective bargaining,” said Mayor Ray O’Connell. “This contract provides cost certainty and avoids the costs and delays associated with arbitration. Knowing the personnel costs of the department is a significant help in formulating future city budgets.”

FOP Lodge #10 President Scott Snyder said, “On behalf of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 10, I would like to sincerely thank Mayor O’Connell for his willingness to sit down and negotiate a contract extension that is fair and beneficial to the City and our dedicated members.”

The department has an authorized compliment of 222 officers.

Blogger's Note: I will try to get more details on Friday. What are the average and starting salaries? How much do officers contribute to their medical care? Is there a uniform allowance? Based on what I see, I like this deal. I like it when management and labor can reach a deal before a contract expires. The increases sought barely cover inflation, so the City is not giving away the store. Police officers are becoming an increasingly rare commodity because, like firefighters, they put their lives on the line every day. Of all the places in which to make cuts, police and fire should always be the last.