Boston Council Committee Reviews $12.7 Million in Police and City Union Contracts

BOSTON — April 8, 2024 — Boston's Ways and Means Committee hears $12.7 million in police and city union contract transfers, with a full council vote expected Wednesday. Committee Chair Brian Worrell convened the April 8 hearing on six dockets covering three collective bargaining agreements — the Boston Police Detective Benevolent Society, the Detective Benevolent Society Superior Officers Union, and OPEIU Local 6 at the Inspectional Services Department — that would collectively draw the city's collective bargaining reserve down from a post-approval balance of roughly $29 million to $16.7 million, following $46.8 million in earlier approvals this fiscal year. Budget Director Jim Williamson confirmed the reserve opened at $76.2 million in June. Labor Relations Director Renee Bushy highlighted reforms in the police contracts including a reduction in mandatory court overtime coverage from 72 to 24 hours' notice, limits on union release time cut to roughly 20 percent, and a new Type 1 detail priority system for large public events. Council President Ruthzee Louijeune praised the court overtime changes, while Councilor Edward M. Flynn raised alarm that two DNA analysts had recently departed the Boston Police crime lab, leaving the department out of compliance with the state's 30-day evidence testing standard. One public commenter, George Lee of Youth Justice and Power Union, urged the council to reject the contracts, arguing the police agreements add a combined $73 million to the BPD budget when paired with December's prior approval and authorize a controversial centralized lockup facility not yet subject to council oversight hearings.