Huntington Park : Police Take Stalled Contract Dispute Before City Council

About 20 Huntington Park police officers and their supporters filled the City Council chamber Monday to urge council members to settle a contract dispute with the 75-member Police Officers Assn.

City and police negotiators reached an impasse and a state mediator was brought in earlier this week. The officers have been working without a contract since last June.

The sticking points include pay raises and the length of the new contract. Because of the contract problems, at least seven Huntington Park police officers have applied for work at other departments, Detective Ken Rulon said.

At the council meeting Monday night, several residents urged the council to grant police officers’ demands. Mayor Raul Perez repeatedly told the angry, screaming crowd that the council can do nothing while negotiations are being conducted.

In February, the city worked out a three-year contract with the 65-member General Employees Assn., which represents clerical, maintenance and other city employees. The employees received a 3% pay increase, another 3% increase effective this fall, and a 3.5% increase in July, 1993. The contract will expire in July, 1994.