The Akron police union voted overwhelmingly to approve a tentative agreement with the city that will give raises to officers each of the next three years — with the possibility of bonuses in two of these years.
The union voted 272-6 to adopt the agreement, Paul Hlynsky, president of the union, said Wednesday morning.
“That’s the biggest number we’ve ever had to approve a tentative agreement,” he said.
Hlynsky thanked his members for approving an agreement, with 98 percent voting in favor, that will avoid “protracted contract talks” and bring “labor peace” to Akron.
He also praised the three other union presidents and Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic for working together on the citywide union deal.
The police union was the first of Akron’s four unions to vote on the agreement. The fire union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the Civil Service Personnel Association (CSPA) will finish voting by Tuesday. The agreement then will go to Akron City Council for approval.
The agreement would give raises of 2 percent in 2013 and 1 percent in both 2014 and 2015, along with potential bonuses of up to 2 percent in 2014 and 2015, contingent on city income tax revenue.
All other parts of the union contracts, including health-care coverage, would remain the same under the three-year pact.