Tulsa Mayor: City & Police Union Closer To Agreement, Not There Yet

By Emory Bryan, The News on 6

TULSA, OK -- The City of Tulsa and the Fraternal Order of Police still have only a handshake agreement, with only three weeks before the union contract is due to take effect.

The City and police officers union agreed on a template of the contract, but the document has to be finalized and then approved by both parties, and then approved by a vote of the union.

Bartlett said he hoped both sides would soon be a position to execute the contract, so the Fraternal Order of Police could vote on it.

"They're exchanging drafts" said Bartlett, and the lawyers for both sides are "changing things around a bit to fit their understanding of what the agreement is."

The contract deal is an important component of the City budget plan which is under scrutiny now by the City Council. The new budget year starts July 1.

5/7/2010 Related Story: City Of Tulsa, FOP Reach Tentative Agreement