Seattle Police Guild Claims Nickels is Union-Busting

The Seattle Police Officers' Guild has rejected the city's latest contract offer and accused the mayor in union-busting activities, according to a report by the P-I. They claim Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels made an unprecedented move by sending out deputy and assistant chiefs departments in order to evade police leadership.

The contract offer, according to the paper, would give 12-year veterans a 23.8% raise over four years to $89,250 and entry-level officers a 33.9% pay increase over the same period to $63,402. Both would be the highest in the region.

A spokesman for the Mayor said he was "absolutely committed to enacting the recommendations" of the Police Accountability Review Panel that were made earlier in February.