Minneapolis Police Department collective bargaining negotiations loom; major pay raises and departmental changes planned

After months of controversy, the Minneapolis Police Department’s proposed collective bargaining agreement, which would include a hefty pay raise, could clear a major hurdle Thursday morning when it is expected to be voted on by the Minneapolis City Council.

The pay increases in the contract would make Minneapolis police officers among the highest paid in the state. But critics argue that the city should negotiate further police reforms in exchange for the costs.

The contract between the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis and the city has been under negotiation since last September and has already been approved by union members.

This would increase officer salaries by 21 percent over the next three years, meaning a recruit at the agency’s academy would earn about $85,000 annually in the third year of the contract.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the high salaries were necessary to rebuild the city’s police force, which has lost hundreds of officers since 2020. He said the raises were justified by their “tireless” work.

The contract also includes provisions that give the police chief more authority to assign officers and fill vacancies. It also extends the amount of time Police Chief Brian O’Hara can place an officer on leave following allegations of misconduct and allows for the hiring of civilian investigators.

Some council members, including Council President Elliott Payne, questioned whether the city could have negotiated more policy changes with the union.

Budget Committee Chair and City Council Vice President Aisha Chughtai said the city’s additional costs for the new contract are expected to be $9.2 million next year and $10.6 million in 2026, not including the cost of retroactively paying officers who have left the department.

The council will also consider reallocating state aid to public safety to partially cover the contract’s additional costs. The mayor’s proposal would cut funding for the city’s truth and reconciliation efforts, a gun violence collaborative and a traffic safety pilot program.

Dozens of residents submitted comments on the proposed contract, with many critics urging council members to vote against it, asking why a department with low clearance rates deserves more money.

Supporters cited the city’s crime rate and the struggle to improve police staffing levels. They argue that this contract is a step toward restructuring the Minneapolis Police Department, which is currently under state court oversight and awaits a similar federal case. Both were sparked by the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer four years ago.

The Council has no power to dictate terms to negotiators. If they reject the treaty, both parties will return to the negotiating table.