Members of Denver’s police union on Thursday approved contract concessions designed to help the city close a projected $56 million budget gap.
Vince Gavito, union president, said 87 percent of the members voted for the cuts.
The package will suspend, for this year, premium pay that officers receive for working on certain holidays. The officers also will lose some compensation they receive for equipment and uniforms.
Officers also will forgo the day off they receive on their birthdays or the extra pay they get for working on a birthday.
Gavito has said Mayor John Hickenlooper’s administration agreed to reimburse the police in 2010 or 2011.
Firefighters were to vote Thursday and today on similar concessions.
The union representing sheriff’s deputies rejected Hickenlooper’s request that the deputies also accept concessions. The mayor then fired 11 deputies, but efforts are underway to bring them back by extending a 30-hour unpaid furlough program to 40 hours.
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com
