Labor union contracts still under review

Contracts for both civilian and uniformed unions, from the fire department to county police office staff, are in the hands of the county’s law office. All 10 contracts are being reviewed before they’re sent to the County Council in one package, Jim Keary, spokesman for County Executive Jack Johnson, said,

The latest police officers union contract was due in July, but months of haggling between the county and the union slowed the process, and it wasn’t approved by the union until January. The law office received the contract in early March, and six weeks later it has yet to be received by the CountyCouncil.

“It should be out fairly soon,” Keary said.

But Vince Canales, president of the police officers’ local union chapter, said the process is taking too long; a year’s wait for a new contract is “driving us crazy right now,” he said, calling the contract review process “antiquated” and “backwards.” “We’re at their mercy at this point,” Canales said.

Until the contracts are sent to the council, they’re not a matter of public record, but Canales has said the contract offers little to encourage older members of the force to stay on once they’ve reached retirement, further draining experience from a youthful force.

Since 2003 the county police has rapidly expanded, adding 150 fresh faces each year as experienced officers retire. Senior officers blame declining case closure rates and fewer convictions on the change.

Canales also has said flat increases in starting salaries makes the county less attractive than those salaries offered by nearby counties.

When the contract was approved by union members in January, Assistant Police Chief Darrin Palmer described it as a product of difficult economic times, and played down the flat salaries.

“Officers come here because it’s an exciting, growing and diverse community. … They’re not looking to be rich, they come here for higher purposes.”

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