Labor leaders applaud City Council’s approval of SPOG contract

November 13, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Charles Lapham, MLK Labor Communications Director
503-713-3032, Charles@MLKLabor.org

Approval of Seattle Police Contract is a Historic Step Forward for Seattle

Labor leaders applaud Seattle City Council’s approval of the SPOG contract

(Seattle, WA) — Seattle’s labor community applauds the Seattle City Council’s approval of the Seattle Police Officers Guild’s collectively bargained contract as a historic step forward for Seattle.

Seattle Police Officers have been working without a contract for nearly four years. In this time, they have brought the department into full and effective compliance with the federal consent decree, including the implementation of officer body cameras. SPOG’s six-year agreement provides Seattle police with the first pay increase in years while setting in place historic reforms to police oversight.

The agreement was reached with Mayor Durkan earlier this year after years of negotiations with several different mayors. During this time, the cost of housing in Seattle has risen by over 70 percent, while population growth and homelessness have skyrocketed.

The following statement was issued by MLK Labor Executive Secretary-Treasurer Nicole Grant after the Council’s approval of the contract:

“MLK Labor thanks the City Council for approving the SPOG contract. This fair and collectively-bargained agreement marks a historic step forward for our city and our ongoing work to improve police accountability. For the first time in nearly four years, the hard-working men and women of the Seattle Police Department will get a pay increase.”

“Thank you to Mayor Durkan, Chief Best, SPOG President Kevin Stuckey, and the Seattle City Council for their commitment to keeping Seattle safe and improving police accountability. This contract is by no means an end to our efforts to address the institutional racism that exists within our city. The labor community is committed to continuing the dialogue about policing practices and educating all workers about the need for social justice.”