Committee advances eight municipal contract amendments after tense debate over raises and concessions

SAN FRANCISCO — The Government Audit and Oversight Committee on July 7 advanced eight proposed amendments to memorandums of understanding covering police, firefighters, nurses and other municipal employees, amid sharp questions about deferred raises and whether the concessions are equitable.

Martin Grand, representing the Department of Human Resources, said the eight amendments complete a 30-contract package negotiated with unions and estimated the agreements will produce roughly $230,000,000 in savings over two years. Grand described the deals as concessionary and said they rely largely on furlough days, deferred raises and other temporary reductions, while preserving layoff protections and partial restoration of retirement benefits for bargaining-unit employees who accept the agreements.

"We come to you this afternoon with the final eight contract amendments…in total, we have produced savings of upward of $230,000,000 over two years," Grand said.

The package includes: a management police agreement represented by the Municipal Executives Association; two firefighter units of San Francisco Firefighters Local 798; San Francisco Police Officers…