Thousands of New York City police officers preparing for an unusually busy Fourth of July weekend learned this week that their holiday pay would be delayed, prompting the Police Benevolent Association to file a grievance against the city as frustration spread among officers, as reported by The New York Post.
According to city officials, union leaders were informed Wednesday that holiday paychecks for NYPD officers would be distributed during the third week of July instead of the second week, which has been the practice in previous years.
The announcement came in an email from Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry to union members.
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The delay initially sparked criticism directed at Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration, although the NYPD later said the issue resulted from an internal payroll processing problem that officials were working to correct.
In his message to officers, Hendry criticized the delayed payments, noting that officers are working extended shifts during one of the busiest security periods of the year.
“This is not only a violation of our contractual rights. (It’s) also an insult to PBA members who are working long hours in extreme heat to meet the extraordinary security demands of the upcoming holiday weekend,” Hendry wrote.
The union president also announced that the organization would formally challenge the city's decision.
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“The PBA will therefore file a grievance seeking to bar the City from delaying payment of the holiday checks, and we will continue to pursue every measure to hold the current City administration accountable for its refusal to support our members,” Hendry wrote.
Sources said union officials submitted the grievance on Wednesday through the NYPD's Office of Labor Relations. If the dispute is not resolved, it could proceed to arbitration.
Later Wednesday, the NYPD released a statement explaining that the delay stemmed from an internal processing issue rather than a policy decision.
“This was an internal processing error, and we are working hard to address it immediately. We believe we will be able to fix it and ensure that everyone receives their holiday pay in the second paycheck of this month, as they so rightfully deserve. No one does more for this city than the cops, and the very least they deserve is timely pay for the work they have done,” the department said.
According to sources, holiday pay varies depending on an officer's salary level. Officers at the entry pay scale are expected to receive nearly $2,800 in holiday compensation.
The current dispute follows a similar payroll delay that occurred in January shortly after Mamdani assumed office.
According to Hendry's email, city officials at that time said payroll processing had been delayed because the city's payroll office needed to update its systems to comply with new tax requirements.
Hendry noted that the current delay came without a similar explanation.
“This time, the City has offered no excuse for the delay,” his email stated.
The payroll issue comes as the NYPD prepares for one of its largest security operations of the summer.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a joint news conference on Wednesday that thousands of uniformed officers will be assigned to 12-hour shifts leading up to and throughout the Independence Day holiday.
Security operations begin Friday with the wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden.
Additional major events scheduled throughout the weekend include the International Naval and Aviation Review, the Parade of Sails, and Macy's annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration on Saturday.
The deployment will continue on Sunday with the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Brazil and Norway at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The combination of nationally significant celebrations, major sporting events, and large public gatherings is expected to require an extensive police presence across the New York metropolitan area throughout the holiday weekend.
City Hall did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the payroll dispute.
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