City Agrees to Extend Collective Bargaining Negotiations with Police Officers Association
April 19, 2021 - San Antonio
By Jade Esteban Estrada, Staff Writer | San Antonio Sentinel
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- On Monday, the City and the San Antonio Police Officers Association agreed to extend collective bargaining negotiations through May 12
- The City of San Antonio’s negotiating team has met with SAPOA 11 times
On Monday, the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Police Officers Association (SAPOA) agreed to extend collective bargaining negotiations. The parties signed off to a 15-day extension, which extends talks through May 12, 2021.
“We have made positive progress in these negotiations, but the arbitration process remains unresolved – that is our top disciplinary reform priority,” said San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh. We made our disciplinary priorities clear and known prior to beginning these negotiations. It is not acceptable to have arbitrators undermine the Chief’s authority and force him to rehire officers that have been fired for egregious conduct. Allowing that to continue tarnishes the City, the San Antonio Police Department and our efforts to serve the public daily.”
“Our residents have voiced their priorities and asked us to seek substantial disciplinary changes for police officers,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “My council colleagues and I are committed to making that the City’s top priority in these negotiations. The City has negotiated in good faith and is willing to continue negotiations.”
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“It is critically important to the San Antonio community that the police contract no longer protect and enable bad officers,” chimed in Deputy City Manager María Villagómez. “The vast majority of San Antonio Police officers do a tremendous job protecting and serving the community, and they deserve better. The City of San Antonio’s negotiating team met with SAPOA 11 times since both parties agreed to negotiate in good faith. Both parties agreed at the start of the negotiations to meet and negotiate through at least April 19, 2021.
More information about the collective bargaining agreement negotiations, including recordings of past sessions can be found here.
Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer for the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. jade@sasentinel.com | Twitter: @getjaded