Police Officers Sue City in Contract Fight

Santa Paula police officers, who began working without a contract Tuesday, have sued the city to demand that their labor dispute be heard by an arbitration panel.

The filing of the lawsuit in Ventura County Superior Court comes after months of stalled contract negotiations. The officers are seeking better retirement benefits and a pay hike of 5% annually over three years, saying they want to close a salary gap between their department and other law enforcement agencies in the county.

Recently, the officers asked for binding arbitration under a state law signed by the governor last year. But City Manager Peter Cosentini said the city would not move forward with arbitration because it believes the new law is unconstitutional.