Dispute between Oklahoma City, police union will go to panel

A dispute over whether Oklahoma City should pay for a second police officer to staff the Fraternal Order of Police union headquarters will send labor negotiations between the city and the union to a panel of arbitrators.

The city council voted Tuesday to reject the police union’s latest offer. With an election already scheduled in May to settle a labor contract dispute between the city and its fire union, the failed negotiations continue to widen the rift between the city and its public safety unions.

The police and fire unions are opposing the city’s MAPS 3 plan, claiming the city needs to address understaffing in the police and fire departments before another MAPS vote.

Unlike the dispute with firefighters, the issues with the police contract are relatively cheap. In addition to the second officer to staff union headquarters, police want to change the flex time policy and allow office workers and other officers on a 40-hour work week to choose when to take holiday time off.

"They want to have the ability to work the holiday and take the time off later,” City Manager Jim Couch said.

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