SAN BENITO — Police officers here want a raise.
The local police union is moving forward with its request for pay increases for its members.
“The officers haven’t had a raise in several years,” Mike Gomez, an attorney with the Texas Municipal Police Association, said yesterday.
But City Manager Manuel De La Rosa called that “a misstatement.”
“I look forward to discussions in the collective bargaining process,” De La Rosa said in a statement.
“I have been here for two budget cycles and all of our employees have received raises both years,” he said.
“Generally, the union requests an increase above what other city employees make. All of our employees are important to us so we try to look out for all of them.”
But Gomez said the city pays its officers less than many other cities.
“We’ve done a salary survey and found they’re close to the bottom of the salary scale,” Gomez said.
He said he is working with union members to determine the amount of increase the San Benito Police Officers Association will request.
In May, the local union requested the city open collective bargaining negotiations.
Last month, city officials met with a union representative “to set the ground rules,” city spokeswoman Martha McClain said.
McClain said the city is expected to meet with the union on Sept. 17.
“The city commission will listen to their request and act accordingly,” McClain said.
But Commissioner Esteban Rodriguez said the city cannot afford to give pay raises.
“That can’t happen right now,” Rodriguez said. “It’s not in the budget. There’s no money for raises.”
In recent years, Gomez said, negotiations have failed to lead to pay increases.
“They come to the table every year and say we don’t have money,” Gomez said.
He said the city spends money to train its police officers who leave for higher-paying jobs.
“They probably lose officers to other departments — like a training ground,” Gomez said. “They go somewhere else and make a whole lot more money.”
In 2012, the union’s threat of litigation failed to push officials into giving in to a pay increase.
But officials gave 50-cent across-the-board raises — the first employee pay increases in three years.
– May 15 – San Benito Police Officers Association requests the city open negotiations
– June 27 – City officials meet with union attorney to “set ground rules”
– July 17 – City officials are expected to meet with union representatives
