By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

The POLC negotiated substantial wage increases for Genesee County Dispatchers and Dispatch Supervisors mid-contract to address hiring and retention issues.

The re-opener agreements, effective April 11, 2023, garnered 20 percent wage increases for Dispatchers and 12 percent wage increases for Dispatch Supervisors with additional monetary benefits.

“This was a collaborative effort between the Union and the local leadership team — County Executive Board Chairman Fred Thorsby, Executive Director Tim Jones, and Deputy Director Dave Plumb,” said Jake Reitano, Genesee County 911 Supervisors Steward.

Both units have been struggling with staffing shortages for several years, but a change in the Genesee County 911 Administration and Executive Board prompted major progress between the Employer and Union.

“They have not been fully staffed since 2015 when the City of Flint 911 consolidated into Genesee County’s 911 system,” Reitano said. “They have a lot of people leaving and the Overtime was increasing.”

Staffing shortages reached critical levels in recent years with new and vested Employees alike leaving their positions. So, County officials asked the POLC to help them figure out exactly what it would take to attract and retain Employees long term.

“If they budgeted for 50 people, they only had 32 people. They have been short at least 10 people for probably a year or two,” he said. “It was really the County Executive Director and Deputy Director that blew the whistle and told the board they were in a crisis state where we can’t afford to lose any people. In order to make it more attractive, we had to make some positive changes in the contracts.”

POLC Labor Representatives Christopher Hild and Chester Kulesza, who represent the Dispatch Supervisors and Dispatchers respectively, did their research, showing County officials how nearby municipalities are compensating their Employees. 

“When we did the comparables, we were the lowest paid in the area, at least for the Supervisors,” Reitano said. “We don’t have any type of Defined Benefit pension, so the places around us that do have DB pensions have an edge in recruiting. They can still offer those traditional pensions with health care. We had to make up for that somehow to stay competitive.”

The Union also addressed the losses both groups sustained under County-imposed concessionary contracts. Prior to the re-openers, Genesee County Dispatchers and Supervisors, who receive 96 hours of Sick Time per year, had their ability to cash out unused Sick Time removed from their contracts. “The last contract it was changed to lose it if you didn’t use it by the end of the year, which drove up Sick Time usage and drove up Overtime,” he said. 

The Union and Employer agreed the best remedy to discourage overuse of Sick Time was to remove the ‘use it or lose it’ clause and reward Employees with $300 bonuses every month they do not use any Sick Time. “Sick Time Bank cash out language was restored. Now they have the ability to cash out anything over 144 hours or have it put into their 457 account in lieu of cash at the end of every year,” Reitano said. 

Supervisors had also taken a hit in the Employer’s contribution to their retirement plans. The previous 15 percent Employer contribution was reduced to 10 percent in 2019. During the first three years of the contract (2019 to 2022), Supervisors received a 7-1/2 percent increase in wages.

“The previous administration imposed concessionary contracts on both groups. Any increases in wages were still making up for that loss,” Reitano said. 

In addition to significant pay increases in the re-openers, Dispatch Supervisors were further incentivized to continue working for Genesee County through one-time stipends. The County is providing $3,000 stipends for Supervisors who have less than three years of service and $6,000 stipends for those with more than three years, provided they maintain active employment.

“We only met one time and hammered a few things out,” Reitano said. “It’s a big, positive change in the leadership and executive board makeup.”