A labor dispute between the City of Chula Vista and its police officers association might soon be over though it's still unclear whether any officers will be laid off.
The two sides struck a tentative agreement this week, which also extended a delay in implementing layoffs, according to statement issued Friday by the Chula Vista Police Officers' Association.
The union's 226 members will vote on the proposed agreement next Thursday, said Kathryn Garcia Schuster, spokeswoman for the police association. The City Council would also need to vote to approve the agreement.
Garcia Schuster said she was not authorized to release details of the agreement but that both sides had found common ground. Chula Vista police union secretary Phil Collum said in a statement that union leaders were "cautiously optimistic that the tentative agreement will be formalized and we hope that as a result, no officers will be laid off."
The labor dispute received a lot of attention because of the city's intention to lay off officers unless it came to an agreement with the police union.
The city had proposed officers contribute nine percent of their salary to their pensions and give up a six percent raise, which would save the city $2.5 million.
City officials said most of the city's other employees have agreed to contribute more to their pension and accept smaller raises for this year.
Garcia Schuster said 32 officers were originally targeted for layoffs but ten positions were spared in December with help from local school districts.
Police union officials warned that if the remaining officers were laid off it would mean a decrease in patrols in high-crime areas. They said the department also has one of the lowest staffing ratios in San Diego County.
Leonel.sanches@sandiegored.com
