Framingham Police Union Ratifies $1 Million Contract

FRAMINGHAM, MA — For the first time in almost three years, the city and the Framingham Police Officers Union negotiated a new contract and it was ratified on Thursday by the union. The contract covers three years and costs just over $1 million.

The contract is retroactive in part, from July 1, 2018, and is effective through June 30, 2021. The union hasn't worked under an active contract since June 2015.

The contract includes:

• 2018, cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of one percent and change to the salary schedule to add steps at 15 and 20 years of service
• Four percent base-wage increase (retroactive to July 1, 2019)
• One percent COLA effective July 1, 2020
• Paid Educational Incentives effective January 1, 2020 (to amend the current paid education incentives which had been unchanged since 2010)
  • Associates Degree: 10% additional of base pay
  • Bachelor’s Degree: 20% additional of base pay
  • Master’s or Law Degree: 25% additional of base pay
• Paternity Leave (language added to match City policy and comply with state and federal law)

The increases will bring police salaries up to par with surrounding an comparable communities. The city hopes the increase in salary will help retain officers in Framingham, an issue that was highlighted in a police management study published in December.

In the study, 62 percent of department personnel were interviewed individually, along with people outside the department who are closely connected with it. Many officers complained about pay, noting that they can make significantly more money by transferring to other departments. Shifting the pay scale was noted as one of the improvements the city and department could make to help retention.

In exchange for the pay bump, the Union agreed to revamp the use of compensatory time, which will make more officers available to be on the streets of Framingham, reduce forced overtime and better enable the management of time off. In addition, the Union agreed to withdraw two grievances that were slated to head to arbitration this fall, saving many hours of legal and management time and arbitration costs.

The contract now must be submitted by the mayor to the City Council for approval of the funding needed. the City Council could vote on the funding at the Oct. 1 meeting.