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Police union votes against contract

By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published October 20, 2006

Tampa's police union voted this week to reject a contract that would have raised their pay by 4½ percent next year, and 4 percent for each of the two following years.

The vote took place Tuesday and Wednesday and failed by 539 to 268, nearly 2-1.

It applies to officers, detectives, corporals and sergeants, said police spokeswoman Laura McElroy.

In a separate 16-5 vote, police lieutenants approved a contract for themselves that's nearly identical to the one the police union voted down.

Police Benevolent Association president Kevin Durkin said he hasn't talked to enough officers to be certain about the reasons for the rejection, but speculated it had to do with pay and officer evaluation procedures.

The previous contract, negotiated in 2003, expired Sept. 30.

Under the previous contract, officers made $40,456 to $65,728 and sergeants $65,728 to $80,662.

Under the contract rejected Wednesday, salaries would have increased over three years to $45,108 to $73,287 for officers and $73,287 to $89,938 for sergeants.

[Last modified October 20, 2006, 01:45:56]