The state appointed a mediator Tuesday to try to settle the stalled contract negotiations between the city and the NYPD’s largest police union.
After concluding that talks between the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association and the city had hit an impasse, the New York State Public Employment Relations Board said it will step in, tapping William Conley, the board’s assistant director of conciliation, to help settle things.
The union and the city have been fighting over the terms of a two-year contract to cover the period between Aug. 1, 2017, and July 31, 2019.
Talks stalled earlier this year after the city proposed a contract in which police officers would receive no raises for 42 months.
“We are pleased that PERB has agreed with us that further negotiations with the City absent the assistance of a third party would be futile,” PBA President Pat Lynch said.
“We welcome the appointment of a professional mediator to assist the parties reach a settlement that both recognizes the substantial contributions of police officers to the success of this city and the significant degree to which they are presently underpaid.”
Should the mediation process fail, the next step would be for both parties to enter binding arbitration before a three-person panel which will decide the terms of officer’s two-year contract.