Oakland police officers could receive raises totaling 14% over the next five years under a tentative labor agreement reached with the city — but they would also take on a larger share of their pension and health care costs.
The deal with the Oakland Police Officers Association, announced Thursday, is an effort to improve recruitment and retention at a department that is nearly 200 officers short of its staffing goals, while limiting the city’s long-term financial obligations. It comes as Oakland works to recover from major budget cuts needed to close a $40 million deficit earlier this year.
“The city recognized the need to provide competitive compensation, while OPOA recognized that the city cannot continue to absorb rising pension and healthcare costs without greater employee participation,” Finance Director Bradley Johnson said in a statement…