PORT TOWNSEND — Police officers agreed to postpone a cost-of-living raise in a two-year labor contract.
The city of Port Townsend and the Port Townsend Police Department ratified a labor agreement that maintains current salary and benefit levels but does not include a cost-of-living adjustment.
Police officers were due for a 4.3 percent adjustment, which they agreed to postpone, City Manager David Timmons said.
“We are very proud that the police force is stepping up to help the community,” Timmons said of the cost-of-living concession.
“They recognize our situation.”
Council members present at Monday’s meeting unanimously approved the agreement with Local 589 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Councilwoman Kris Nelson and Councilman Mark Welch were not present.
The contract is a two-year agreement with an option for a third year and includes a 4.3 percent wage concession for 2012.
In 2013, department employees could receive the 4.3 percent increase, or the city would base its increase on a wage market analysis, Timmons said.
Cuts through attrition
The contract also states there will be no reduction in force except for attrition or retirement, and all other benefits remain the same, with minor modifications.
Police salaries have been raised 1 percent since 2009, Timmons said.
Police Chief Conner Daily, who attended Monday’s special meeting, which lasted about seven minutes, said he did not know how pay in his department compared with other local departments.
He said the force receives “a good salary and good benefits,” and that he hadn’t lost any employees because of the salary offered.
Daily, who sat in on but did not participate in the negotiations, said the process took several months and there were no serious disagreements, only some language that needed clarification.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.