FOP ratifies tentative contract agreement
The Cape Coral Police Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 33 ratified Friday the tentative agreement with the city of Cape Coral.
The membership voted “overwhelmingly” to accept the terms of the agreement, which include a 2 percent pay cut and a 3 percent increase in the employee’s share of the pension contribution. This raises the employee contribution from 7 percent to 10 percent.
Police also gave up two days of “holiday” pay and created a lower “entry level” step for police officers.
The wage and benefit concessions agreed to by the union could provide an annualized savings of $1.6 million to the city.
“I want to extend my thanks to the membership of the FOP and to their negotiating team, who came to the table in December with a plan to get an agreement done,” interim City Manager Steve Pohlman said in a prepared statement.
“This vote is a solid reflection of their commitment to this city and illustrates what opposite sides of a table can accomplish when they work together toward a common goal,” he said.
The FOP and the city’s negotiating team met on Dec. 20 and reached a tentative agreement within an hour. The FOP took the agreement to their membership and voting concluded Friday.
The agreement applies to lieutenants, sergeants and rank and file.
“Our union leadership had high praise for the city’s negotiating team, and we thank them for their honesty and professionalism,” said Kurt Grau, president of the police union in the prepared statement released by the city. “We look forward to working with them in the future and maintaining this positive relationship.”
The Cape Coral Professional Firefighters Local 2424 negotiating team also reached a tentative agreement with the city for similar concessions and will be taking the agreement to its membership for a vote in the coming weeks.
Cape Coral City Council also will need to vote on the tentative agreements.
Source: City of Cape Coral