CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicago Aldermen have given preliminary approval to a $600 million, eight-year contract with the city’s rank-and-file police union.
The years overdue contract with the Fraternal Order of Police gives officers back pay and an overall salary increase of 20%.
And city negotiators said it contains many reforms, including the ability to investigate anonymous complaints of misconduct.
But some aldermen like Byron Sigcho-Lopez question whether it goes far enough.
"They have not been in compliance with a number of provisions with the consent decree. And I think this represents an important opportunity for the city to discuss real accountability," Sigcho-Lopez told WBBM Newsradio.
But Ald. Raymond Lopez warned his colleagues a rejection of the agreement would be more costly and probably fail in arbitration.
"Though you might try to politicize this as a way of scoring a point, for those of you who are constantly talking about our fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers, this is the best deal possible," Lopez told WBBM Newsradio.
The FOP members have already ratified the agreement. The committee approved it unanimously and now it goes to the full council.
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