By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor
The primary reason Cass City Police voted to join the POLC was legal protection, but the group’s Local President had nothing but praise for the additional excellent benefits they received during contract negotiations.
Cass City Police Officers first contract negotiated with POLC representation yielded 15 percent pay increases over the two-year agreement and a host of additional benefits. Previously, they were not represented by a union.
“Really the impetus for wanting the Union was out of concern for not having defense counsel or any representation other than the City contracting with any attorney to represent us,” said Jeff Wagner, Cass City Police Officers Local Union President. “If any of us were involved in a deadly force encounter or situation requiring representation, we would want the best attorneys specializing in law enforcement matters.”
Wagner learned more about the Police Officers Labor Council through his friendship and affiliation with POLC/GELC Executive Committee member Bob Gaiser. “After talking to Bob Gaiser at Caro (City Police Department), he told me about PORAC,” he said.
By becoming POLC members, Cass City Police were able to purchase significantly discounted group legal protection through PORAC Legal Defense Fund after voting to join the Union in October 2023.
“It was more of the legal defense and if we were able to get a raise and a little better benefits that would be just icing on the cake,” he said. “(POLC Representative) Chris Watts was fantastic! He negotiated an awesome contract for us with a significant pay increase and better benefits. It’s been great.”
The group’s bargaining agreement, effective Jan. 1, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2025, includes a 12 percent pay increase the first year and a 3 percent increase in 2025. Their Shift Premium pay also doubled and expanded.
“We received approximately a 15% raise over the two-year contract in addition to $1 an hour Shift Premium,” Wagner said. “We only have two 12-hour shifts — days and nights. Previously, our Shift Premium started at 8 p.m. and we were able to negotiate that to 6 p.m. (Watts) got it moved so our entire shift was covered from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. We were all pleased with it.”
Also, adding a potential sizable boost to their annual pay is the new requirement that Overtime must be offered to Full-Time Employees first. Previously, Part-Time Employees were utilized on Holidays etc. as they did not receive Holiday Pay and were paid significantly less.
Vacation Time increased from 80 hours for the first 5 years of service to 120 hours in Year 1, going up to 220 hours for Employees with 10 years of service.
Their annual Uniform Cleaning Allowance increased to $500 and Bereavement Leave increased from 3 to 5 days for immediate family. Employees now have three paid Personal Days off per year that can be taken without prior notice to the Employer. The POLC negotiated additional contract language to clarify procedural and disciplinary items. “Now there is a formal process in place for disciplinary action, which there wasn’t before,” he said.
“On a personal note, it’s been a great experience working with Chris Watts and seeing first-hand the integrity and commitment POLC has towards its membership,” Wagner said.
