18% Pay Raise for Oceanside Police Reported

Oceanside police and city officials have tentatively agreed to a 6% annual pay increase, ending three months of heated labor disputes marked by sickouts and protests.

Negotiators reached the unofficial agreement with the help of a state mediator late Wednesday afternoon, said City Manager Ron Bradley. The contract reportedly calls for an 18% salary and wage increase over three years.

Bradley would not confirm those figures, but said, “that basically covers it.

“I think both sides were able to compromise to reach this mutually agreeable settlement,” Bradley said. “To the best of my understanding, the association will take it back to their membership for ratification Monday.” Leaders of the Oceanside Police Officers Assn. did not return calls Thursday.

Recommendation to Council

If approved by the POA, Bradley said, he will recommend that the City Council accept the contract at its next meeting, on Wednesday.

“If the association approves it Monday, I’m pretty confident the council will do the same,” said Mayor Larry Bagley. “I can’t speak for the other council members, but I will definitely vote in favor of it.”

Contract negotiations stalled June 21 when the parties failed to resolve a salary dispute. According to POA President Sgt. Ron Graf, members were asking a 7.5% increase, but the city offered a raise of 5%.

On two occasions, within a month, police officers strained department operations and escalated tensions at City Hall by not reporting to work. On June 10, about 25 of 180 POA members unexpectedly called in sick. More than 30 officers suffered from the “blue flu” again July 6.

Though the city notified the Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol about the personnel shortage, assistance from the other agencies was not required.