Pleasanton, Police Union Reach Tentative Contract Agreement

PLEASANTON, CA — The city of Pleasanton has reached a tentative contract negotiation with the Pleasanton Police Officers Association, the city announced Thursday night.

The two parties have been negotiating on upcoming contracts for months. In May, the PPOA rejected the city’s offer of a 15 percent pay increase over three years for officers, and an 18 percent pay increase over three years for sergeants, among other points. A negotiations impasse was declared.

Further negotiations in July also stalled, leading to public pressure in support of giving Pleasanton police the salaries and benefits the department said were required to mitigate an ongoing staffing shortage.

The tentative contract agreement will run from June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2026, and will increase wages and benefits for police officers and sergeants, the city said in a news release. The City Council will consider the agreement at its meeting on Sept. 19, and consider approving it Oct. 3. The city did not provide further details.

“I am pleased that Pleasanton’s leadership and the PPOA came to a contractual agreement that has been endorsed by both parties. I deeply appreciate the City Manager and City Attorney’s work during the negotiations and their commitment to providing the public with current information and updates on the negotiation,” Mayor Karla Brown said in a statement.

“The City Council is proud of the outstanding service our police officers provide to the community, and we believe this new contract demonstrates our commitment to the men and women that serve.”

The Pleasanton Police Officers Association said in a news release that a tentative agreement was reached Wednesday morning, and approved by a vote from PPOA membership Thursday evening.

“After 92 days without a contract, we are pleased to have reached an agreement with the City. Our members are ready to move on and get back to serving this great community. We cannot thank the community enough for their unwavering support of our officers and public safety,”PPOA President Brian Jewell said in a statement. “Public safety requires a continued and intentional commitment as a city priority. We will continue to work with the Mayor and City Council to ensure that it is.”

The PPOA had filed a request with California Public Employment Relations Board to assign a neutral third-party arbitrator to issue a non-binding decision on Sept. 27, but this is likely no longer necessary.