OXNARD : Police Group Seeks Pay Raise Support

Frustrated by stalled contract talks, members of the Oxnard Peace Officers’ Assn. on Monday sought to rally public support for their efforts to win pay raises.

More than two dozen members of the police union gathered in front of the Oxnard Police Department in a show of unity aimed at convincing city officials to return to the bargaining table with a bona fide offer.

“The city has steadfastly refused to negotiate with us,” said association President Steven Blanchard. “I guess what we’re asking is for the city to recognize our contribution to this community and compensate us for our job performance.”

The 174-member association has been working without a contract since the first of this year. The union and the management team representing the city have reached an impasse.

The police association is one of three labor unions representing Oxnard employees that is at impasse with city negotiators.

Dene Jones, the city’s personnel director, said she is hopeful that the two sides will resume negotiations soon.

“We have proposed some wage and benefit adjustments, but we haven’t agreed on how much and when,” Jones said. “They are saying they want more than the city has been authorized to spend.”

During talks for a new two-year contract, Blanchard said the city has offered no pay increase for the first year and a 2% increase the second year.

Blanchard said that’s not enough of a raise for the officers who patrol Ventura County’s most crime-plagued city. He said the Oxnard Police Department is the lowest-staffed in the nation for cities with a population of 100,000 to 250,000.

Blanchard said city officials, if necessary, should dip into their $6-million reserve account to provide raises for their police officers and support staff.