Elorza, Providence Police Union to Sign Agreement With Increased Pay and Pension Contributions

Elorza, Providence Police Union to Sign Agreement With Increased Pay and Pension Contributions

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza is expected to join President of Providence FOP Lodge #3 Michael Imondi on Thursday to sign a tentative contract agreement spanning a four-year term from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2023.

The pending contract requires officers to contribute an additional 5.5% of their salaries toward the city’s pension fund, totaling a 13.5% annual contribution. 

In addition, the first three years of the contract provide 4.5% wage increases and the final year provides a 3.75% wage increase for all officers.

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Imondi noted the current base pay of Providence Police Officers is in the bottom 25% compared to other Rhode Island municipalities.

"[This contract] comes down to the fiscal reality of Providence and the salary of the officer -- we've been grossly underpaid for 15 years. In 2007, we had six years in a row we took zero salary increases," Imondi told GoLocal. 

"This contract will help us to get back to where we belong," said Imondi. "There's always give and take. The pension is the biggest concern with the city's $1.2 billion unfunded liability. With us paying more into the system, it helps. It's a concession, but it's a deferred compensation -- our view is our members will eventually reap that benefit."

FOP Voted No Confidence in Elorza in June

In June, the FOP voted overwhelmingly “no confidence” in Elorza and Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare.

That vote stemmed in part from an interaction in which Providence firefighters accused Providence police of racial profiling. 

"The results of these votes overwhelmingly show the lack of confidence which the Providence FOP and the men and women of the Providence Police Department have in Commissioner Pare and Mayor Elorza, and show the obvious frustration and sense of betrayal felt by these men and women of the Police Department due to the June 6, 2020, public statements made by Mayor Elorza and Council President Matos which prematurely and, as we now know, falsely accused two of our Police Officers of misconduct in the incident with a Providence Firefighter,” said the FOP in their statement in June. 

"This is separate and aside from those issues," said Imondi on Thursday. "This is strictly business. No matter who was in office -- we would have to deal with the contract."

The agreement as it stands will be retroactive to July 2019, when the police began operating without a new contract. 

Elorza Touts Contract

Elorza, who is expected to run for Rhode Island Governor in 2022, spoke in favor of the contract on Thursday. 

“This agreement achieves historic pension reform as a means for longer term financial stability for the City while making meaningful investments in the future of our Police Department," said Elorza. 

“I am committed to ensuring our approach to public safety is driven by long-term thinking and approaches to public safety. This contract serves as one part of that overall commitment and I thank Providence FOP President Michael Imondi and the entire FOP leadership team for their good-faith efforts to reach an agreement," Elorza added. 

The contract is pending final approval by the FOP membership, before being considered by the City Council as part of the city's budget process.