National City Police Back After One-Day Walkout

National City police returned to work Tuesday after staging a one-day walkout on the Fourth of July prompted by an impasse in contract negotiations.

Acting Police Chief Wayne Fowler said the 24 officers who called in sick Monday were back on the job Tuesday, adding that he does not know the motive for the walkout. But Everett Bobbitt, attorney for the National City Police Officers Assn., said the walkout was prompted by the officers’ failure to reach agreement with the city on a new contract after two months of negotiations.

“I can’t confirm that it was a walkout. Essentially, they were sick for one day . . . brought on by a number of issues that still have to be resolved. These include the city’s proposal to reduce staffing, the firing of Chief (Terry) Hart and an overall atmosphere of bad faith in bargaining,” Bobbitt said.

The officers’ contract with the city expired last Thursday.

Salaries and Safety Are Issues

According to Bobbitt, salaries and safety equipment are the two major issues that remain unresolved. The city has offered a 7% pay increase in a multiyear contract, but the officers are holding out for a 14% increase. The City Council recently approved a 23% pay increase for National City firefighters, who negotiated a multiyear contract.

National City police officers are not issued armored vests or handguns, Bobbitt said. The officers want the city to purchase the vests and to change a department policy that now requires each officer to provide his own weapon, he added.

The controversial firing of Hart in March also has become an issue in the negotiations. Hart was fired after a clash with the City Council over the department’s budget. His firing angered the POA, which demanded that he be reinstated, and has soured relations between the officers and city officials.

During Monday’s walkout, police duties in National City were handled by sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers.