CREST HAVEN — Members of several county bargaining units of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 have “signed off” on a proposal that would extend their contracts into a third year, with salary increases spread from two to three years.
Freeholders were poised to pass enabling resolutions regarding them last night, too late for this edition.
The extension would include detectives, investigators and corrections officers.
Superior officers, captains and lieutenants, of corrections and sheriff’s officers have also agreed to their proposal, according to Cape May County Administrator Stephen O’Connor.
Estimated saving total $900,000.
O’Connor met with sheriff’s officers on Monday regarding the proposal.
As reported here Dec. 1, the proposals are similar to those AFSCME Local 3596 was prepared to place before rank-and-file members in November. Then a “quorum vote” was taken by Council 71 at a meeting in the Historic Courthouse on Nov. 18.
It was reported that the local’s officers would attempt to contact the international headquarters in Washington, D.C. to see if it would be possible to have that vote overturned and hold an election in which the entire body covered by the present contract could vote.
Assistant prosecutors in the county Prosecutor’s Office also have a “wage reopener” that will begin in January 2011, and just settled on the following wage increases:
Assistant prosecutors making under $80,000, get 2.75 percent, those making between $80,000 and $100,000 get 2.5 percent, while those earning over $100,000 get a 2 percent increase.
In consideration for the wage concessions, brought about by the “current economic conditions facing county government,” the county has agreed to a conditional contract extension.
Corrections officers and corrections officer sergeants would have their present contract, which is effective from Jan. 1, 2009 through Dec. 311, 2012, extended until January 2013.
For its part, the county will, for those concessions, agree:
• There will be no layoffs or furloughs of any employees covered in the extended agreement.
• The existing number of employees currently part of the bargaining unit will be the minimum number that will be maintained for the life of the extended agreement.
• All health benefit co-payments will continue at the current amount unless an increase is state mandated. Should that happen, employees will pay “either their existing amount or the mandated amount, whichever is higher.”
“However, unless otherwise required by law, the employee will not be required to pay both the existing co-payment as well as any new state mandated amount.
“In the event that budgetary restrains make it impossible to fulfill the terms of this extended agreement, the 2013 year extension will be cancelled and the county agrees to reimburse all employees covered by this agreement the full salary and wage adjustments established for the original contract amounts for years 2011 and 2012.”
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
