Parlier council moves to continue talks after contentious police MOU impasse discussion

Parlier City Council on Oct. 19 took no immediate vote to declare an impasse with the Parlier Police Officers Association (POA) but directed staff to continue negotiations in closed session.

City legal counsel told the council the resolution under consideration would declare an impasse only with respect to developing the final memorandum of understanding (MOU) language, and that the tentative agreement before the council dealt primarily with financial terms. The city attorney cautioned against contract language that would "surrender a statutory right," saying such provisions can be illegal and can jeopardize an entire agreement.

Roger Wilson, attorney for the Parlier Police Officers Association, urged the council not to declare impasse, saying negotiations had been ongoing and that declaring impasse "is completely unnecessary." He told the council the city and union had met several times in July and August and were close to agreement on pay terms.

Sergeant Manuel Chavez, who said he is acting president of the POA, told the council the union was seeking clearer, more specific contract language to avoid future manipulation and alleged that most issues had been worked through at multiple meetings. Council members and union representatives agreed to schedule a closed session so city negotiator Sonia and the POA could continue discussions.

The council directed staff to meet and resume negotiations in a special closed session later in the month to continue work on the MOU. No formal adoption of the impasse resolution occurred at the meeting.

Next steps: the council scheduled a special closed session to continue labor negotiations with the POA. The item will return to open session only if and when the council takes formal action.