Naples City Council to vote on police wage increases

Naples police officers say they need better compensation. After months of negotiations, the Naples City Council will vote on giving them a raise, but officers say they need more than just money.

The president of the city’s police union says that, among other things, they’re really fighting for better medical benefits and better pensions, things he says other departments in the area have. The union had a tentative agreement with the City of Naples, but union leaders say the city pulled back on it without giving them a reason.

“The supervisors (sergeants) contract provides for an approximately 29% average wage increase over the three years (13.88% in year one, 6.65% in year two, and 6.95% in year 3 — plus incentives). The officers’ average wage increase is approximately 27.5% over three years (11.83% in year one, 5.32% in year two, and 6.74% in year three — plus incentives),” wrote Naples City Councilman Ray Christman in an email. “The Year One increases for both bargaining units are retroactive to the start of the contract term which is 10/1/21. This means that all covered personnel, who have been paid since that date under the prior contract, will receive the difference in pay between the old contract and the new contract for the period since 10/1/21 as well as going forward. Annual increases built into the contract then occur on 10/1 of each succeeding year of the contract.”

At Monday’s city council meeting, Naples city leaders will consider a resolution approving and confirming a three-year labor contract for the period of October 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2024.

“The contract provides for adjustments in pay grades to increase starting salaries and reward years of service (experience benefit),” Christman wrote. “In other words, new officers hired will receive higher base pay if they come to the job with three or more years of experience. They also will receive increases in longevity pay sooner (beginning at year 10) which is what our firefighters already receive. There are other new provisions in the contract regarding incentives for officers to seek further educational and training opportunities, but the major element of the contracts are the wage increases.”

When WINK News asked city leaders for comment, Interim City Manager Pete Dimaria said over the phone that it’s a fair contract.