>The Donovan administration and Policemen Benevolent Association Local 49 representing the Bergen County Police Department have reached agreement on a revised contract which will result in millions of dollars in savings for taxpayers and avert police layoffs.
The revised contract replaces an 11th hour agreement executed by former County Executive Dennis McNerney on is last day in office. That agreement, which called for a whopping 9.79 percent salary increase in 2010 and provided for retroactive payment of those raises to January 1, 2010, was severely criticized by incoming County Executive Kathleen Donovan who promised to offset the significant additional costs by laying off as many as 25 County Police Officers.
Under the restructured agreement, County Police have agreed to replace the 9.79 percent increase and retroactivity provision with a new four year contract which averages 2.4 percent per year. In addition, the County Police have agreed to participate in the Direct Access Insurance Plan currently offered by the County and will contribute 1.5 percent towards health care benefits cost.
The County Police will dismiss any grievance or litigation that is pending relating to health care contributions. The revised contract will eliminate the necessity for the layoffs in 2011.
According to Ms. Donovan, “The County Police have negotiated a contract which reflects current standards, is fair and just for all concerned, and, most importantly, saves Bergen County taxpayers over 2 Million dollars. Unlike the McNerney “give-a-way”, this new contract provides appropriate cost of living increases without unduly impacting taxpayers.”
Local No. 49 President Vincent Sileo, said that the new contract protects a number of officers “who would have lost their jobs if the old contract had remained in place.” He said that “We negotiated in good faith with the Donovan administration and reached a just agreement which respects the needs of our members and County taxpayers.”
The agreement was unanimously ratified by the union members.
