New contract approved for Birmingham BPOA

By Grace Lovins

A new three-year contract and settlement agreement for the Birmingham Police Officers Association (BPOA) was approved by the city commission on Monday, November 17, putting in place new wage adjustments for the three contract years, 401(a) contribution matches, and a wage increase for dispatch employees.

Human resources manager Christina Cilluffo explained to the commission that the previous collective bargaining agreement expired at the end of June this year. A new agreement was reached on November 3, and ratified by the union on November 6.

Cilluffo said the settlement agreement included the three-year contract, annual wage adjustments of 3.5 percent for 2025, four percent for 2026, and 3.5 percent for 2027, as well as a five percent wage increase for the dispatch positions. The 36 full-time employees of the department will also receive an additional five percent employer contribution to their retirement and a $25 increase in holiday premium pay for working specific holidays.

Also among the primary features of the agreement, employees will be able to get paid military leave time for up to six shifts a calendar year and the addition of Juneteenth for annual vacation accrual.

Cilluffo said the total fiscal impact to the city is roughly $275,000 for the year which was budgeted in the wage adjustment account. With no questions or discussions, commissioners approved the settlement agreement and new contract in a unanimous, 7-0, vote.