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16% Pay Increase for Cops Off Table

By Tim State in News on Mar 21, 2009 10:00PM

03-21-09_Chicago_Police.jpg
Image by Simonds.
The ongoing contract negotiation between Mayor Daley and the Fraternal Order of Police has again taken a nose dive, with Daley rescinding his offer of 16.1 percent increase over a five-year period. The old contract expired June 30, 2007, and the FOP has been negotiating a new contract for two years now. FOP officials are concerned this will further threaten already-plumeting police moral, but with revenue declining and threatening a $200-million 2009 budget deficit, Chicago may have to join other cities that are threatening to lay off officers.
The FOP has demanded a 24 percent pay increase over four years and a $3,000-a-year residency stipend to compensate police officers for being forced to live in the city.

The union also wants a reduction in merit promotions -- from 20 percent to 16 percent -- and a 5 percent cap on the number of officers who can be detailed out of their assigned units, to prevent manpower at district stations from being depleted.

Starting salaries for Chicago officers are $43,104 annually, and after 25-years, veteran officers can make $78,006. [S-T]