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City Council approves FOP contract after hours of debate over retroactive raise
Summary
The Newport City Council approved a collective bargaining agreement with Lodge No. 8, Fraternal Order of Police, covering a bridge year and a three-year term; heavy debate focused on the retroactive 2024–25 pay increase and a failed amendment to raise it from 2.9% to 4%.
The Newport City Council approved a collective bargaining agreement with Lodge No. 8, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), covering a bridge year from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and a three‑year contract from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. The council voted to adopt the contract after extended discussion about retroactive pay increases for the prior year.
Council members debated the retroactive pay raise that applies to the already‑completed 2024–25 period. Councilor Collins proposed an amendment to increase the retroactive raise from 2.9% to 4% for the 2024–25 year, saying, “I propose a 4% increase as opposed to a 2.9% increase.” The amendment failed on a show of hands. A second amendment to raise the upcoming 2025–26 increase by 1% also failed for lack of a second. The underlying contract was then approved by the council.
Nut graf: The contract includes a 2.9% increase for the bridge year and language clarifying overtime duties, addition of Juneteenth as a holiday, and provisions for stress‑abatement days. Councilors and staff said the agreement was negotiated over many months; city legal and administrative staff described it as a hard‑fought, good‑faith settlement. Opponents of the proposed amendment argued raising the retroactive amount would set a difficult precedent for other unions and complicate future negotiations.
In debate, city officials and the solicitor cautioned that council involvement in negotiated settlements can politicize bargaining and affect other unions. Supporters of higher retroactive pay said the additional cost — which Councilor Collins estimated at about $72,356 — was justified to recognize service already performed.
The agreement was presented as budgeted for the current fiscal year. After the failed amendments and discussion, members voted in favor of the contract; no roll‑call vote with individual yes/no names was read into the record during the final tally.
Ending: Councilors requested that administration continue to provide negotiation summaries and fiscal notes for future collective bargaining items as part of budget and oversight work.
