The Oakland police union and the city of Oakland tentatively approved a new contract Thursday that would give officers a 14% pay raise over the next five years.
For months, the Oakland Police Officers’ Association and the city have been in negotiations after the union’s 10-year labor contract expired in late June.
The contract — which governs police officers’ salaries, benefits, and much more — has major implications for Oakland’s finances. This year, the Oakland Police Department had an annual budget of $376 million, roughly 18% of the city’s $2.1 billion spending plan.
Under the tentative agreement, OPD officers will receive wage increases totaling 14% over five years, starting with a 2% increase in January 2027 and continuing through June 2031, according to Sam Singer, OPOA’s spokesperson.
Officers would also assume more of their pension and healthcare costs, with a 10% employee healthcare contribution by January 2030 and 3% pension cost-sharing by July 2030, according to Finance Director Bradley Johnson.
A draft of the tentative agreement that would show other substantive changes has not been made publicly available.
Sgt. Huy Nguyen, president of the police union, described OPD as “stretched thin,” saying in a press release that the department should have approximately 1,000 officers when it currently has roughly 500 after accounting for officers on leave or vacation.
“We recognize that Oakland is facing very real financial constraints, and our members agreed to make meaningful financial contributions to help the city,” Nguyen said. “At the same time, the city recognized that Oakland cannot afford to continue losing trained, experienced officers to neighboring departments.”
Over the next 10 days, OPOA members will vote on whether to ratify the contract. If approved, the deal will then go before the city council at its Sept. 15 meeting for final approval.
In a news release from the city, Council President Kevin Jenkins and the council’s Public Safety Committee Chair Charlene Wang said the terms of OPOA’s contract are essential to reducing officer turnover, improving public safety outcomes, and ensuring the city’s financial stability.
“These contracts help the city remain competitive while recognizing the service of the officers who serve our community every day,” Jenkins said.
“Oakland’s police officers work extraordinarily hard under challenging circumstances, and this agreement supports the officers who serve our city every day while giving Oakland five years of predictable costs we can responsibly plan around,” said Wang.
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