Committee approves two police union contracts covering 2027–2029; non-supervisory contract includes paid parental leave

The Finance & Personnel Committee voted July 2 to approve tentative collective bargaining agreements with the La Crosse Professional Police Non-Supervisory Association (Local 26) and the supervisory association covering Jan. 1, 2027–Dec. 31, 2029.

Director Fransen (chief negotiator for the city) summarized the agreements, which city staff and union leadership negotiated under parameters given by the committee. For non-supervisory members, the agreement provides a 4% wage increase in January 2027, a 1% increase in April 2028, a 3% increase in October 2028 and a 3% increase in January 2029. The non-supervisory contract also makes members eligible for paid parental leave beginning Jan. 1, 2027; both contracts include additional language updates to align benefits and practices.

Fransen estimated the increased cost for the non-supervisory union at approximately $900,000 over the three-year contract and about $320,000 for the supervisory union over the same period. He said both unions ratified the tentative agreements.

Committee members asked about the timeline and cost breakdown for 2027 specifically; Fransen said he did not have the year-by-year split in the meeting but reaffirmed the multi-year totals. The committee moved and approved the agreements; votes were recorded as passing unanimously.