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Budget committee advances arbitration award for police bargaining unit that includes 5% raises and lump‑sum payment
Summary
The Budget Committee recommended reporting Resolution 25‑284 for adoption after the Department of Human Resources outlined an arbitration award for the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO), including 5% across‑the‑board increases, step movements and a $1,800 lump sum.
The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee on Oct. 14 recommended reporting Resolution 25‑284 for adoption after the Department of Human Resources described an arbitration award for the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO), bargaining unit 12, covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029.
The arbitration award calls for 5% across‑the‑board raises for unit members, continued step movements and a lump‑sum payment. “It awards 5% for the, across the board raises for all of the officers, including their step movements,” Department of Human Resources Director Nola Miyazaki told the committee. The resolution’s attachment lists the full cost items.
Why it matters: the change directly affects city payroll commitments for public safety staff and will increase salary costs factored into upcoming budgets.
The department estimated the total salary cost for bargaining unit 12 across the four‑year period at $221,164,973. Miyazaki said the lump‑sum payment would be $1,800 per member paid on July 1, 2026, and noted step movement (longevity) increases occur every three years. Committee members asked whether the pay increases would assist retention; Miyazaki said retention pay must be negotiated separately as a supplemental item and that recruitment bonuses previously negotiated were distinct from the base contract.
Committee discussion was brief and no public testimony was offered on the item. The chair recommended reporting Resolution 25‑284 out for adoption; no objections were recorded during the meeting.
The committee record shows that arbitration remains scheduled for other public safety bargaining units: firefighters (bargaining unit 15) and ocean safety (bargaining unit 11) have pending arbitration dates after the new contract period began.
The committee’s report moves the arbitration award forward to the full council for final action and for incorporation into the city’s operating budget planning.
