Cops and firefighters storm city hall
Redondo Beach POA President Scot Martin
“This is the first day of a long fight until we get back what we deserve,” said Scot Martin, the president of the Redondo Beach Police Officers’ Association, to city employees just before they stormed the City Council chambers chanting slogans and brandishing signs protesting unfair, dishonest treatment by city officials.
More than five years ago, as the city struggled to stay afloat during the crippling recession, city employees agreed to cuts in wages and other benefits totaling 6 percent. The implication was that the money would be restored to the employees within a year or two but the city never made good on their promises.
Brad Sweatt, president of the Redondo Beach Fire Association, said, “It became, ‘We never promised we would give it back to you. We need this money.’ In negotiations, it became the new normal. ‘This is what you’re making now. You should be happy you have a paycheck.”
Redondo Beach unions had never worked together but the crisis got them sitting down together and talking. Scott Martin called that first meeting “historic.” They realized a lot of lying had been going on.
Redondo Beach employees earn the lowest compensation of all of the cities in their area. They have not received a cost-of-living increases in the past six years.
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