SJPDA Reaches Tentative Agreement on 3-Year Deal

TA Details and Ratification Schedule Below

Dear Members,

Your Negotiating Team and Board of Directors are proud to present a Tentative Agreement (TA) that delivers meaningful immediate compensation, protects long-term earnings growth, creates a new strategic pathway to increase pensionable income and formally recognizes our members as first responders.

The signed TA is linked here and will be posted on the City website later this afternoon. Prior to the TA ratification process beginning, there will be two informational Zoom meetings next week where members can ask questions and seek clarification. The Zoom meeting and TA ratification schedule can be found below the TA details.



KEY IMPROVEMENTS

1. Strong Upfront Compensation (Year 1)

   • Full-time members will receive a $5,250 one-time, non-pensionable payment on the first pay period of the new fiscal year.

   • Part-time employees will receive a prorated amount.

   • Important: This payment is yours to keep—even if you retire within the first year.

1. Ongoing Base Wage Salary Growth (Years 2 & 3)

   • 3% base wage increase in Year 2

   • 3% base wage increase in Year 3

   • These increases build directly onto your salary and compound over time.

1. Major Win: Pensionable POST Certification Pay

   • Beginning in Year 2, the agreement introduces pensionable POST certification pay—a major long-term structural gain:

   • Intermediate POST: 2% of base pay (increasing to 3% in Year 3)

   • Advanced POST: 2.5% of base pay (increasing to 5% in Year 3)

   • This is pensionable from day one, meaning it increases both your current earnings and your retirement benefits.

STRATEGIC APPROACH

Your negotiating team made a deliberate decision to prioritize upfront lump-sum compensation in Year 1 to secure ongoing wage gains in future years, even beyond the term of this contract.

That strategy allowed us to secure:

• Ongoing wage increases in Years 2 and 3, and

• A significant, pensionable POST pay structure

Without this tradeoff, achieving this level of long-term, pensionable compensation would not have been possible. This represents a major strategic victory and creates a foundation for POST pay to grow as an ongoing incentive for our members to continue their training in future negotiations.

Path to POST Certification

The Association will actively support members in obtaining POST certification and maximizing these benefits.

Intermediate POST requires:

• 3 years of experience + a bachelor’s degree, or

• 5 years of experience with required POST coursework in addition to 45 Education Units, or

• 7 years of experience with required POST work and 30 Education Units, or

• 9 years of experience with required POST work and 30 Education Units

Advanced POST requires:

• 7 years of experience + a bachelor’s degree and training, or

• 9 years of experience + an Associate's degree, or

• 9 years of experience of experience with required POST work and 45 Education Units

• 11 years of experience with required POST work and 30 Education Units

We will provide guidance and resources to help members navigate and achieve these certifications.

MEMBER INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATIONS PRIOR TO RATIFICATION VOTING

We will be hosting two informational Zoom presentations to walk through the agreement:

• Tuesday, June 2 at 10:30 AM

• Thursday, June 4 at 5:30 PM

  
  

These sessions will cover the details and provide an opportunity for questions. A ZOOM link will be sent on Monday to the entire membership.

RATIFICATION OF TA

TA Ratification voting will take place at the PAC Briefing Room and the voting schedule is set forth below:

This agreement reflects a balanced, forward-looking approach. It delivers immediate value while building long-term, pensionable earnings opportunities for our members.

Your Negotiating Team and Board of Directors UNANIMOUSLY recommends, after careful review, a YES vote to ratify the TA.

In solidarity,

SJPDA Negotiating Team and Board of Directors