By Katie Knapp
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kios/local-kios-694940.mp3
Omaha, NE – A contract dispute between the City of Omaha and the Police Union is going to arbitration.
Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey announced Thursday morning that the negotiations are being turned over to the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations. That move comes after several months of negotiations failed to produce a new contract. The current Police Union contract expired at the end of 2007.
Fahey says he believe the city's final offer was fair. It included:
-a 3.5% pay raise each year for the next three years
-a request that Police Union members pay a five percent premium toward their health insurance
-a one-half of one percent increase in the employees' pension contributions
-an elimination of pension spiking
The Mayor says that offer is the same as what the Fire Union and civilian employees' union received. The 800-member Police Union rejected that offer and negotiations are at a standstill due to health care and pension issues.
Arbitration could take several months.
Click on the link above to hear Mayor Fahey talk about the contract negotiations.