MCFARLAND, Calif. --
Police officers in McFarland are working on creating a union, but officers said the city isn't allowing it.
The police department has been in operation since Jan. 2010 and employees recently teamed up to start the process of creating a union. Officers who wish to remain anonymous said they were shut down by the city and city officials have refused to bring up the issue to city council members.
23 ABC spoke to City Manager Bob Wilburn, who denied the allegations and says McFarland is not opposing an association.
"I think they may have different expectations of what the police officers association might accomplish for them, or they just don't understand the process. They have asked to be placed on the city council agenda and they will be placed on the agenda as soon as our staff has cleared all the paperwork and we're sure that both we and they are following procedure as set forth by law," said Wilburn.
Police Chief David Oberhoffer said it's important that employees have their rights and benefits protected. He also added that this is a normal process police departments go through and most departments have employee unions or groups that look after officers.
Attorneys representing the officers and McFarland city officials are expected to have a conference. Depending on how that meeting goes, attorneys and officers may show up at the council meeting Wednesday.
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