DRPA, police force wrap up arbitration

The long-running labor dispute between the Delaware River Port Authority and its police force may be coming to an end.

DRPA and the police union made final arguments to an arbitrator this month, and the arbitrator has until Dec. 8 to issue a decision.

The 131 patrol officers, sergeants, and corporals, whose last contract expired Dec. 31, 2009, seek a 3.75 percent pay raise for each year from 2010 to 2017.

DRPA is offering a 1.9 percent pay increase for 2014, 2015, and 2016, with no raises for the other years.

The union blamed Gov. Christie, who can veto DRPA contracts, for insisting on no raises.

The base pay of a rookie officer is currently $49,015 a year, and officers with at least five years of experience are paid a base salary of $64,417. A DRPA sergeant makes $80,181 a year.

The police force protects the DRPA's Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Betsy Ross, and Commodore Barry Bridges and the PATCO commuter rail line.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 30, which represents the officers, said many local suburban police forces pay higher wages. DRPA noted Philadelphia police are paid less than DRPA officers.

Also in dispute are DRPA proposals to increase the officers' contributions for health insurance, eliminate the right to "sell back" unused sick days, and eliminate 100 annual free bridge passes.