San Jose police union pension reduction for new officers is complete

Not complete, existing officers want their pay and raises restored.

Silicon Valley Mercury News/John Woolfolk, 4/25/13.  "San Jose, officers settle dispute over new police officer pensions."

  Better deal in Pacifica, safer too

"SAN JOSE -- San Jose and its police union struck a deal on reducing pensions for new officers late Thursday, ending a months-long battle over efforts to cut costly retirement benefits at least for future city cops. ....  City correspondence with the officers' union showed the two sides agreed on the basics of a new-officer pension plan. It would raise the minimum age for full retirement benefits from 50 to 60 and lower benefit formulas. The maximum pension would be 65 percent of pay instead of 90 percent, with cost-of-living increases capped at 1.5 percent instead of the current 3 percent.

....  San Jose officials have yet to reach an agreement with firefighters on new-hire pensions, and the city is asking a judge to compel arbitration.

The city and police still are scheduled for arbitration starting May 6 at City Hall on renewing the police officers' contract. The officers are seeking to restore 10-percent pay cuts and additional raises, while the city is seeking limited raises. The two sides have chosen retired Judge John A. Flaherty as the neutral arbitrator."    Read article.    

Note:  photograph from an unrelated Examiner.com article.  

Posted by Kathy Meeh