This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Township, Police Union Reach Contract Agreement

Deal stops short of rehiring the three officers laid off last month.

Following a two-and-a-half year struggle, Maplewood Township and the police unions are finally nearing an end to contract negotiations, with a deal for senior officers already signed.

A memorandum of agreement was approved by the Township on Tuesday night, providing Superior Officers Association (SOA) Local 44A with a five-year contract ending in 2011. The SOA represents the Maplewood Police Department’s officer corps, including sergeants, lieutenants and captains.

Township Administrator Joseph Manning said that a matching agreement with the Policeman's Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 44—representing the rest of the approximately 60 Maplewood police personnel—would be signed soon, pending a vote by the union’s general membership that could come as early as today.

Find out what's happening in Maplewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Township’s policemen have been without a contract since their last one expired in December 2006. According to Manning, the main stumbling block to negotiations has been health benefits. Under the new agreement, each member will contribute $500 per year toward the cost of health insurance beginning January 1, 2010. If passed by the PBA, the contributions are expected to save the Township more than $30,000 in health care spending.

Additionally, salaries will increase 16.5 percent over five years, retroactive to January 1, 2007. A 12 percent differential will be established between ranks beginning in 2010, and annual clothing and weapon spending allowances will also see modest increases.

Find out what's happening in Maplewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The unions have secured a number of additional benefits, including stipends for supervisors of the Youth Aid Bureau and the Detective Bureau. Members seeking educational degrees from accredited colleges and universities can also apply for stipends ranging from $250 to $750.

While the agreement may put many police personnel and Township authorities at ease, it stops short of rehiring or replacing the three policemen laid off last month. Due to shortfalls in federal funding, the force had to let go of the three officers, whom they hoped to keep on the force through a federal officer retention grant. Earlier this year, the PBA voted against a proposal by the town that would have kept the officers on the force in exchange for concessions about benefit payments.*

The current measure does not include provisions for their return, but Manning stated that it may be a possibility if expected federal grants come through later this year.

*The original version of this article conflated the Federal shortfall with Union negotations about the contracts. It has been changed to make the distincton clear.

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?