The Los Angeles City Council Friday approved new contracts for police officers at Los Angeles International Airport.
Council members voted 9-1 in favor of the contracts for officers represented by the Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association, the Los Angeles Airport Police Supervisors Association, Los Angeles Municipal Police Officers Representation Unit and Airport Peace Officers Representation Unit. The contracts will run through 2026.
Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez was the lone “no” vote. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As one of the more progressive, left-leaning member of the council, he has previously voted against providing more funding for law enforcement.
Council members Eunisses Hernandez, Nithya Raman, Kevin de León, Monica Rodriguez and Traci Park were absent during the vote.
In September 2023, the LAAPOA announced its members approved a tentative contract with the city. According to the union, the contract ended in June 2022, with the last raise in 2021.
“We never expected it to take an additional six months to get it to council after the tentative agreement was reached back in September and Los Angeles Police Department’s contract passed,” Marshall McClain, president of LAAPOA, said in email to City News Service.
He added, “That said we’re happy it was finally approved despite the `no’ vote.”
A spokesman for Council President Paul Krekorian told City News Service the council did not approve the contracts before Friday because more time was needed to review the multiple contracts.
The union reported the new deal addressed overall parity with salaries and benefits of the contract with the union representing LAPD’s officers. LAAPOA noted the difference in the pay increase will not impact the city’s general fund or city tax payers.
According to city documents, officers represented by LAAPOA will receive an increase in their base wages, alongside boosts to bonuses and health benefits.
The association represents rank-and-file airport police officers from the ranks of lieutenant and below. Funds that pay LAX officers’ salaries and benefits are from airport revenues — no general tax funds from the city are used.
LAAPOA also represents the rank-and-file of Los Angeles Park Rangers, the ranks of captain and below, and officers of the Municipal Police, formerly known as the General Services Police Department. All are specialized policing teams focused on specific safety needs of the city.