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San Jose Police Reach Job-Saving Contract Deal

SAN JOSE (CBS SF) - The city of San Jose and the San Jose Police Officers' Association have reached a tentative agreement on concessions that will save the jobs of more than 150 police officers.

The agreement, which was reached Friday morning, will prevent 156 police officers from being laid off, City Manager Debra Figone said.

"This agreement keeps 156 police officers on the street protecting our city, and it meets the council's goals of a 10 percent reduction in total compensation and an agreement to keep working on pension reform," Figone said in a statement.

The city has asked all its employees to take a 10 percent reduction in salary and benefits amid a $115 million budget deficit.

The terms of the proposal include a 10 percent reduction in total compensation for a savings of $12.9 million, but allow an arbitrator to decide whether the reduction will be ongoing or one-time. If the arbitrator decides the reduction should be ongoing, the contract terms will be for two years and if it is one-time, the terms will be for one year.

The terms also allow the city to outsource policing at the airport.

Negotiations on pension reform and sick leave payouts, however, are ongoing.

The proposal must be approved by members of the police union before going to the City Council for consideration on June 14.

George Beattie, president of the Police Officers' Association, said both sides bargained in good faith and that he hopes to continue pension reform talks with the city.

"Sadly, the deal will not save the jobs of all of our officers who have received layoff notices this year, but we hope that the city will continue to work to find funding options to keep as many of these officers on the street as possible," Beattie said.

(Copyright 2011 by CBSSan Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services may have contributed to this report.)

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