The MPD Collective Bargaining Agreement: What You Need to Know
The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) is one of the largest police departments in Minnesota, serving a population of over 420,000 people. Like most police departments, the MPD has its own collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that outlines the terms and conditions of employment for its officers.
A CBA is a legally binding agreement between an employer and a union that represents its employees. The MPD`s CBA is negotiated between the city of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Federation, the union that represents rank-and-file officers.
The current MPD CBA was negotiated in 2019 and runs through December 31, 2022. Here are some of the key provisions of the agreement:
1. Compensation: The CBA establishes salary rates for officers based on their years of service and rank. It also includes provisions for overtime pay, shift differentials, and premium pay for certain assignments.
2. Benefits: The CBA provides for a range of benefits, including health insurance, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, and retirement benefits.
3. Discipline: The CBA outlines the disciplinary process for officers, including the types of misconduct that can result in disciplinary action and the procedures for conducting investigations.
4. Grievance Procedure: The CBA includes a grievance procedure that allows officers to file complaints with the department and the union if they believe their rights have been violated.
5. Work Rules: The CBA establishes rules and procedures for officers, including work hours, assignments, and equipment.
6. Training and Education: The CBA provides for ongoing training and education for officers to help them improve their skills and stay up-to-date on new technologies and best practices.
The MPD`s CBA has come under scrutiny in recent years, following the killing of George Floyd by former officer Derek Chauvin in May 2020. One of the key criticisms of the CBA is that it makes it difficult to discipline officers for misconduct, particularly in cases of excessive use of force.
In response to this criticism, the city of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Federation began negotiations in 2020 to revise the CBA. The proposed changes include a more streamlined disciplinary process, increased transparency and accountability, and new provisions for community engagement and civilian oversight.
While the negotiations are ongoing, the current MPD CBA remains in effect. As the city and the union work to address the concerns raised by the George Floyd killing and other incidents of police misconduct, it is likely that the MPD`s CBA will continue to evolve in the coming years.