NEWARK – City police must accept minimal raises they rejected earlier this summer, by order of conciliator Jerry B. Sellman, of Columbus.
In a report on binding arbitration handed down last week but released to The Advocate on Monday, Sellman awarded Newark police no raise this year but increases of 1 percent in 2015 and 1.5 percent in 2016, which matched pay hikes the council approved for nonuniformed workers in July.
Police had sought the same raises the city had granted firefighters in February: no increase this year, but 1.5 percent raises in 2015 and 2016.
“Well, you know it’s never 100 percent exactly what you wanted, but it’s something we can live with,” said David Arndt, negotiation coordinator for city police.
Arndt said the members of his union, the Fraternal Order of Police Local 127, are aware of Sellman’s report. City and union representatives are checking the final contract before signing it, he said.
“There’s no vote,” Arndt said. “The conciliator’s report is final. Whatever he said goes into effect.”