New five-year agreement for Ottawa police

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Members of the Ottawa Police Association voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new five-year contract that provides salary increases of 19.3 per cent over the life of the agreement.

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But the union and the Ottawa Police Service Board said an agreement extending parental leave to 35 weeks at 93 per cent of a member’s salary was a “massive” improvement.

“It was one of the first issues resolved,” OPA President Matthew Cox said.

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Cox said OPSB and the union are seeking measures that would make both recruitment and retention of police officers easier.

Alta Vista County. Marty Carr, vice-president of the services council, acknowledged that the issue of parental leave was a breakthrough.

“Policing is a male-dominated field, but (parental leave) would be an important recruiting issue for women,” Carr said.

The current agreement allows only 10 weeks of paternity leave and 15 weeks of maternity leave.

Ottawa’s new measure is considered the highest level of any municipal police operation. The federal RCMP pays a parental allowance of 93 percent of members’ weekly pay for up to 37 weeks.

In a statement, OPSB President Salim Fakirani said parental leave benefits “recognize the needs of employees, both sworn and civilian, and help them balance their work responsibilities with their growing families.”

The board noted that it was important that the agreement was reached before the current contract expired on December 31.

“(The agreement marks) an important step in fostering a productive and collaborative labor relations environment,” the board said.

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Cox said nearly 90 percent of the union’s 2,258 officers and civilians voted in favor of the deal.

Starting January 1, 2025, the agreement provides for salary increases of:

• 2025: 6.85 percent.
• 2026: 3.5 percent.
• 2027: 3.5 percent.
• 2028: 3 percent.
• 2029: 2.5 percent.

A first-class police officer now earns a base salary of just over $111,000.

Both sides highlighted the “important” issue of the fact that the new contract was signed before the expiration of the existing agreement, as well as the five-year duration of the new agreement.

“This five-year collective agreement aims to recognize the dedicated people who protect our community every day,” said Salim Fakirani, president of the OPSB.

Carr said the salary increases are covered by the 2.9 percent increase in the annual levy provided in the proposed police budget.

However, the new salary figures mean the department will delay its plan to provide body cameras to officers.

Negotiations with the much smaller “Senior Officers Association” are expected to begin in the new year.

The OPSB is the civilian agency responsible for governing the
police department.

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