The labor unions that represent Phoenix city employees have ratified pay and benefit agreements, but the Phoenix police union has rejected the deal. KJZZ’s Terry Ward reports.
TERRY WARD: There are seven labor groups representing the city's nearly 15,000 employees. The Phoenix Fire Fighters Association approved their contract, thereby restoring half of the 3.2 percent pay cuts city workers took two years ago. The only union rejecting a deal is the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, representing about 2,500 police officers. Their members want full pay restored in the first year of the two-year agreement. They also asked for a 4 percent raise in the second year of the contract. Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos and PLEA met last Monday but left without an agreement and no more meetings are scheduled. Now that most of the contracts have been ratified, city officials will finalize contract agreements to send them out for public review. The Phoenix City Council will have a final say on the contracts in the next month.