After eight months of public and private negotiations and state mediation, the union representing Minneapolis police officers voted to approve a historic 21.7% pay raise on June 3.
The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis voted 301 to 63 to ratify the tentative agreement, which secures rank-and-file officers a 5.5% pay bump starting July 1, a 2.5% raise on January 1, 2025, and another 3.5% jump next summer, as well as pro-rated backpay, per The Star Tribune. It is unclear at this writing whether the contract, which was adopted in March 2022 and expired in December of that year, also includes accountability and reform measures.
“We are thankful of reaching a tentative agreement with the City that was ratified by the membership,” union president Sergeant Sherral Schmidt told local news station 5 Eyewitness News. “We now wait for council approval and hope that council will see value in this contract for hiring and retaining officers, especially given the clear and present reality that this is a dangerous profession.”
Approval of the measure by the Minneapolis City Council could be stymied by progressive councilmembers who have in the past expressed that “deep, transformational reforms” be included in future police contracts. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020 and others by police, the contract was put under the microscope by public officials, who cited it as a hinderance to changing disciplinary policies within the department.
In addition, activist groups and watchdogs have echoed calls for reform, demanding tangible accountability measures in contracts, with some adopting the mantra “No raises without reforms!”
Despite these concerns, Mayor Jacob Frey offered praise over the agreement in late May, stating that it could “advance critical reform work and make significant progress on competitive pay for Minneapolis officers and recruits.”
The contract comes at a time when recruitment and retention issues are growing due to large numbers of officers retiring, taking jobs in other departments for better pay and benefits, or simply leaving the career. Police Chief Brian O’Hara said in internal department communications in April that more than 140 officers are eligible to retire this year — which is one-quarter of the remaining force.
The City Council will next meet on June 13 to weigh in and potentially sign off on the contract.
