ThisWeek CW 09/17/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/09/14/three-year-agreement-contract-gives-sergeants-pay-hike-other-benefits.html

Groveport City Council approved a new contract with the police sergeants union, increasing pay in each of the three years of the new deal.

Council members voted unanimously Aug. 24 to approve the new contract with the four Groveport Police Department sergeants, who are members of the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.

According to City Administrator Marsha Hall, this negotiation could not be completed until after a new contract had been approved for the 15 police officers and three detectives in the department.

“We had to wait to finish the FOP contract before completing this because the pay is tied to that agreement, and this agreement does become retroactive to July 1,” Hall said.

The new contract continues to base sergeants’ pay on what the highest-paid police officer receives, plus an additional percentage. This means the sergeants’ pay will increase by 3 percent each year of the three-year contract, the same as the police officers’ pay that was negotiated with the FOP.

However, the sergeants will also receive an additional pay increase each year.

In year one, sergeants will receive a pay rate that is 13 percent above the top pay wage for the officers, which is the same as the previous contract. In year two of the contract, this percentage increases to 13.5 percent above the top pay wage for officers, and goes to 14 percent in the final year of the contract.

Besides pay increases, the contract includes the same changes to compensatory time and equipment allow-ances negotiated in the FOP contract.

The new sergeants’ contract increases the amount of compensatory time a sergeant can bank from 40 hours to 56 hours. They will also be given an additional personal day each calendar year, up from one day to two.

Shift differential pay for all shifts between 2 p.m. and 6 a.m. will increase an additional $1.05 per hour as well.

Sergeants also will receive a $100 increase in their annual uniform and equipment allowance, from $800 to $900 per year.

Chief Ralph Portier thanked council for supporting the new contract and thanked Hall for her work in negotiating the agreement.