BOSTON – Disgruntled Boston police won a four-year pay raise of 14.5 percent under binding arbitration on Thursday, and Mayor Thomas Menino (search) said the decision should remove any threat of pickets that could mar next week's Democratic National Convention (search).
Thomas Nee, head of the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association (search), declined to comment, saying he wanted to review the ruling with other union officials.
The police union has threatened to picket the site of the convention — a move that cline set up by police at the time.
The union, whose threatened pickets have already led to the cancellation of convention events, had demanded 17 percent over four years while the city had offered 11.9 percent. Independent arbitrator Lawrence Holden settled on a 14.5 percent increase over four years.
"In my mind, it's resolved," Menino said in a televised interview.
The union had steadfastly opposed expedited arbitration, arguing that it deprived union members of the ability to vote on a contract.
The union has permits to picket all 29 delegation welcome parties on Sunday night, and Nee has insisted that police will go forward with those plans, even if the contract is settled.
The police have said they will picket events Menino attends during the convention and encouraged delegates to boycott or walk out of the FleetCenter when the mayor addresses delegates on Monday night.
Several state delegations questioned by The Associated Press earlier this week said their members would not cross picket lines and would consider walking out on Menino. The welcome parties for Ohio and Michigan delegates were canceled after delegates said they would not cross picket lines.
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