From: PORAC Law Enforcement News, November 200
The members of the El Segundo Police Officers’ Association recently inked a generous three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the city. The package, which the city has conservatively estimated is worth 17 percent, became effective July 1, 200, and runs through June 30, 2003.
Under the terms of the agreement, every officer with five years of sworn law enforcement experience will receive a longevity bonus of 5 percent. Those officers with 15 or more years of sworn law enforcement experience will have a 10 percent bonus added to their salaries. As with association’s education incentive pay, the longevity pay will be folded into the officers’ regularly hourly rate for purposes of computing overtime, thus magnifying the value of this benefit.
The new MOU also provides that officers can sell back 50 percent of accrued, but unused, vacation leave on an annual basis. Moreover, the specialty assignment pay plan was completely revamped. Motor officers will be paid a differential of 6 percent above a top-step officer and all other specialty assignments will be paid a differential of 4.5 percent above top-step officer’s pay. This new plan, which raised the specialty pay differentials, also converted those bonuses to a fluctuating percentage of salary of salary, as opposed to the former scheme of flat-dollar amounts.
The contract was overwhelmingly approved by the membership at its ratification meeting. The association commended the city council for its strong effort to remain competitive in the job market, and for its enlightened attitude about the improved retirement benefit. Throughout the negotiations process, Robert M. Wexler, with Silver, Hadden & Silver, represented the association.
