Judge grants city's request for mediator in union negotiations

SAN ANTONIO – A third-party mediator will try to resolve the lawsuit between the city and the San Antonio Police Officers Association after a 4th Court of Appeals judge on Wednesday granted the city's request for mediation.

The city said it asked for a mediator to get involved to resolve the disagreement over the evergreen clause in the police union's now-expired contract with the city.

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The clause allows officers to keep working under the terms of the expired deal until 2024.

The city filed the lawsuit alleging that clause is unconstitutional.

A judge disagreed and the city is now appealing that decision.

The city filed paperwork Wednesday to move forward with that appeal.

Police union president Mike Helle has said repeatedly that the union will not negotiate a new deal with the city as long as the lawsuit remains.

Helle said Wednesday that the union will review the judge's ruling to determine SAPOA's next legal steps forward.