The Vancouver Police Department has confirmed that it has reached a tentative collective agreement with the Vancouver Police Union.
If ratified, the deal will make the VPD the highest paid police force in the country.
“We have negotiated a tentative, not yet ratified, collective agreement with our union,” Deputy Chief Steve Rai told Global News.
“The contract was very well supported by our mayor, city council and our Vancouver Police Board.”
The two-year agreement includes raises of 4.5 per cent each year, as well as improved parental leave and mental health benefits.
“It’s always challenging and usually we end up having to go to arbitration,” said Vancouver Police Union President Ralph Kaisers.
“So it’s reassuring and I’m optimistic that this tentative agreement will be ratified by our members.”
The settlement will cost taxpayers, but the department says it’s necessary as it works to hire 60 more officers, which would bring the total number of new officers to 175.
“We’re all going after the same candidates, so we’re very competitive in the industry trying to get young people from different walks of life to come into policing, so this will make us very attractive,” Rai said.
Kaisers added that the agreement will help retain up to 23 young female members who were considering leaving the force for another option with better maternity and parental benefits.
Voting on the tentative agreement begins on 26 November.