Ffx. police union sues over pay

Fairfax County’s police union filed a lawsuit last week against the county over frozen pay increases for long-serving officers.

The county’s longevity pay increase, along with merit and pay-for-performance increases, was eliminated for all employees last year to save $19.1 million. The cuts went into effect July 1.

The 900-person Fairfax Coalition of Police sent a letter in February to the 10-member Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, arguing that longevity pay was a “commitment made to our officers when they were hired.” The county’s personnel regulations state that public safety employees, including police and fire and rescue, should receive a 5 percent pay bump after employees have reached the top position in their pay grade and have worked 15 years, and a second pay increase after 20 years.

The county has said the cuts were necessary because of budget constraints.

— Derek Kravitz