By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

Midland County Sheriff's Deputies and Detectives were feeling stuck with their former longtime Union and chose Police Officers Labor Council to help them move forward.

The 21-member group had been with their former union, Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM), for at least 30 years when they voted to join the POLC in October 2023.

“Essentially, we were with them for a long time and we felt pretty stagnant and were not getting any sort of traction with improvements,” said Conner Smith, Midland County Patrol Deputies Association Local Union President. “I’m not sure if it’s solely the business agent or the company, but we just felt like, given the circumstances, we needed to try to do something to benefit our unit for pay and benefits.”

Since their contract expired Dec. 31, 2023, POLC Labor Representative Christopher Watts helped the group with their union transition and got to work reviewing their existing contract. The POLC also researched wages and benefits of surrounding agencies. 

Due to the change of representation, Midland County Sheriff's Deputies and Detectives contract settlement was delayed, but it didn’t negatively impact them. The POLC helped the group settle a new three-year agreement, ratified April 16, 2024, with retroactive wage increases back to Jan. 1, 2024.

“We received a $.60 cent (per hour) market adjustment plus a 3 percent wage increase the first year,” Smith said. “We were looking at the overall comparables, and then trying to increase (our wages) to keep us competitive in addition to the 3 percent.”

They also received another 6 percent in pay increases over the next 2 years of the bargaining agreement, which expires Dec. 31, 2026. “Our last year’s wage re-opener, a 4 percent increase, was the highest we received (before this contract). This one — for wages for 2024 — is now the highest we’ve ever received in one year, so that’s terrific,” Smith said. 

“We added four additional paid Holidays. We went from eight Holidays to 12,” Smith said. “Plus, eight paid Holidays was one of the lowest when looking at 53 of the easily available contracts. So that puts us in the average of several other counties, including those outside of the comparables as well.” 

Midland County Deputies and Detectives also received an increase in their afternoon and night shift premiums, from $140 to $150 per month, and contract language was clarified to prevent issues with contract interpretation.

“Under the simple clarifications, it was not anything we really had issues with. We were mostly trying to prevent future issues,” he said. “One example is we had a dive team where there was reference to a non-paid bargaining unit member, but we don’t have any, so we clarified and got rid of it.”

The group was very pleased with the outcome of their first POLC-represented contract and overall experience with the Union. “Between investigating and looking at comparables, and trying to figure out our best options, this is what we came up with,” Smith said. “The big ticket items were the pay and Holidays. This contract definitely moved us in the right direction and thus a more equal and fair compensation package.”

“It’s been wonderful! The POLC is very open to conversation,” Smith said. “You shouldn’t feel like your group is a number and you don’t hear from them until it’s time to have contract negotiations. Chris is always reaching out, whether it’s a phone call or a text. He’s talking about work and non-work stuff. He is very personable and hospitable.”