Police contract reopened, cops to get raises, will Nutter appeal?

The city's police officers may get a little extra cash just in time for the holiday season.

An independent arbitration panel reopened a five-year police contract awarded in 2009 and issued an award Thursday that includes two years of wage increases.

"This puts a little money in their pockets," said John McNesby, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, who estimated this could mean roughly $1,800 a year for the average cop.

But, the question now is will the Nutter administration appeal the award?

"At this point the award has just been made public," said Mayoral spokesman Mark McDonald, adding that the city is reviewing the award and what it could cost the city. "We have not made a decision on what we will do."

The award secures benefits previously awarded and includes a 3 percent retroactive pay increase for this year, another 3 percent pay increase for 2013 and a 1 percent stress pay bump. Police were awarded 7 percent raises in 2009 over the course of three years with the opportunity to negotiate for further raises in the last two years of the deal.

McNesby said negotiations started in May and called the panel's decision a victory for the FOP. In 2014 the FOP will have to work out a new contract.

Meanwhile the unions that represent the city's blue-and-white collar workers have been without a contract since 2009. More than a dozen members made their way to City Hall Thursday to express their frustrations with a song dubbed the "Twelve days of Nutter," and included a member dressed as the Grinch.

Nutter also recently appealed, again an arbitration award for the city's firefighters arguing it would be too costly for the city.