Detroit reaches bankruptcy deal with Detroit Police Officers Association

Federal Mediator confirms deal reached with union after months of negotiations

DETROIT – After months of intense and at times contentious negotiations, the Detroit Police Officers Association (DPOA) has a deal on the table with Detroit's emergency manager.

The Federal Mediator has confirmed a deal has been reached with the union, which up until this point had been one of two holdouts, the other being the Detroit Firefighters Association.

The rest of Detroit's unions, including American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), signed off on deals months ago.

Sources close to the negotiations told Local 4 what the DPOA has agreed to is, in essence, the same deal struck with the Command Officers and the Detroit Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association.

Sources said the major holdup was the DPOA wanting to see salary restored to its membership at a more rapid rate.

Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr was unwilling to budge on that point, so with this deal all Detroit uniform personnel will see their pay restored at the same rate.

In addition the city is putting aside millions of dollars to pay out what are being called retention bonuses for uniform personnel.

The executive board of the DPOA has voted to accept the terms of the deal, but union President Mark Diaz said there is still more negotiating to be done.


About the Author: