Police Collective Bargaining Impasse Prompts Actions By Alexandria City Council

ALEXANDRIA, VA — After an impasse in negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement affecting Alexandria Police employees, City Council took steps to address disputed areas on Tuesday.

Negotiations for the next contract for police employees has been underway between the City of Alexandria and the Southern States Police Benevolent Association, the designated collective bargaining representative for police. According to the city, key areas of dispute leading into Tuesday's City Council meeting were wages, longevity, pay parity and a reopener provision.

ALX Now reported more on the police union's criticism of pay levels at the Alexandria Police Department. A presentation by the police union to City Council had noted concerns with high staff vacancies and turnover, staffing issues particularly in patrol roles, high work demands affecting calls for service and response times, and low wages amid competition from surrounding localities.

Alexandria's first police collective agreement reached in 2022 runs through June, 30, 2026. The next collective bargaining agreement would have budget implications for the city's upcoming fiscal year 2027 budget.

After a closed session, Alexandria City Council voted on several measures to address wages, longevity, pay parity and the reopener provision.

On wages, Councilmember Kirk McPike made the motion to adopt the police union's position. The motion directs the city manager's office evaluate potential savings to account for pay increases by considering reductions in the authorized Alexandria Police force.

According to city meeting documents, the city had called for wage increases that would cost an additional $8 million over three years. The union's proposal calls for $10.2 million in pay increases over three years.

On longevity, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley's motion recommended adopting the city's position. The city had proposed increasing the longevity bonus, which is given to employees at the top of the pay scale who no longer get step increases, by 20 percent to $1,200 annually. The city's position would result in a $424,800 increase over three years, while the union's desired longevity bonus of $2,500 would cost an additional $885,000 over three years.

On pay parity and reopener procedures, Councilmember John Taylor Chapman's motion recommended adopting the city's position. That would permit the market study and budget retreat to renegotiate pay every three years, rather than annually, as the union sought. In addition, the city seeks to not allow a reopener procedure for annual renegotiations due to salaries falling below market averages.

Once the city and union reach a final agreement, the union membership would have to vote to ratify the agreement, followed by a City Council vote. The new collective bargaining agreement would be in effect from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029.