Chicago police officers want a 12% pay increase over two years in addition to many other proposals as they try to hammer-out a new labor contract with the city.

Fraternal Order of Police president Mike Shields says these days Chicago police are working much harder with much less.  For the police union’s last contract, they were initially offered a 16% raise over five years, but Mayor Daley scraped that offer after the economy took a nosedive.  Rank and file officers had to settle for a 10% raise over five years.

Shields says the current proposal makes up for that loss.

Another part of the proposal is a $3000 dollar a year residency stipend.  Shields says that money would help officers cover the cost of living in Chicago, in most cases he says, the same areas in the city.

“Because those neighborhoods are police and fire, the cost of properties have increased substantially, and this is something that would help offset those costs,” Shields says.

Alderman James Balcer, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, says agreeing on a new contract will require compromise from the city and police union.

“At the end of the day you come together with a contract,” he said.  “You’ve got to work with people.  I think they’ll come to a compromise”

Today Mayor Emanuel briefly commented on the upcoming negotiations saying, “I respect what the men and women of the ranks do.   I don’t believe in negotiating in public but we will deal with all members of organized labor. “