FORT WORTH — The City of Fort Worth rejects the criticism expressed today by the Fort Worth Police Officers Association on the progress of meet and confer negotiations. During negotiations on Tuesday, police union representatives offered a newly introduced one-year agreement and demanded that the city manager agree to this “last best and final offer” by the close of business that day. 

The one-year offer included the key proposals that the police union wanted, and deleted all of the city’s key proposals on local control of hiring, firing, promotion and other matters. In a written response to the police association president, the city manager indicated via the city’s lead negotiator that he needed time to review the proposal and to discuss the issue with the City Council. 

The police union has indicated during negotiations that it wants the city manager to come up with a multi-year wage proposal despite the fact that the city faces a challenging budget year. The city manager team has indicated to the police union that it will be in a position to discuss wages when the budget picture becomes clearer in late July. 

First Assistant City Manager Joe Paniagua said today that the city has negotiated in good faith and is ready to continue to negotiate with the police union for key local control provisions that will benefit police officers and the community. An agreement is possible, but further negotiations are needed before contract terms can be finalize. 

While citizens did approve the meet and confer process, citizens still expect the city to negotiate a financially prudent contract. The city’s negotiating team is committed to reaching such a contract. The city continues its strong commitment to public safety.