Potential Layoffs for Oakland P.D.
OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS)_ Negotiations between the Police Officer's Union and the city of Oakland continue even as layoffs appear imminent.
80 layoffs could coincide with the verdict in the murder trial of former BART officer Johannes Mehserle.
The negotiations continue on a nearly daily basis. As of early Wednesday evening, there is still no agreement.
Oakland City Council President Jane Brunner says potential layoffs are just days away as we await a verdict in the Mehserle trial, during which police services will be in demand.
"If there is an agreement by the end of the week, then on Monday the 80 officers that have been given notices for layoffs will be laid off," said Brunner.
Podcast
Mutual aid is already in place should Oakland police need it.
Brunner and Councilmember Ignacio De La Fuente are both labor attorneys and they're both at the bargaining table with police.
"I've been doing negotiations for too many years to tell you how it's going to end. I hope we can come to a resolution, but I really can't tell you at this moment," said Brunner.
As Oakland faces a multi-million dollar deficit, police have been asked to contribute nine percent of their pension fund, but have yet to make that concession.
