Posted by: jgomori Posted date: March 30, 2022

By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

The POLC brought home double-digit wage increases and exceptional benefit enhancements for Oscoda Township Police and Sergeants in their 2022 labor agreement.

The four-year agreement, which took effect Jan. 1, started off with Officers receiving 14 to 23.5 percent wage increases thanks to a two-step process. The POLC signed a Letter of Agreement with the Township in June 2021 for 10 percent across the board wage increases. They followed up with additional increases effective Jan. 1, 2022 in the new contract due to a complete restructuring of their pay scale.

“The former pay scale had a bump at six months, 12 months and 18 months,” said Greg Alexander, Local Union President and POLC/GELC Executive Committee member. “The new scale is 1-year, 5-years and 10-years and really increased our numbers. The Township was focused on retention, so they took our old top out and moved it down to one year from 18 months and added 4 percent increases. To get people to stay, they added more years of service, more money, and continued the Longevity clause.”

Sergeants received 18 to 22 percent increases in 2022, followed by 5 percent increases over the Officers’ wages the last three years.

Lateral Language was added so new hires receive credit for previous law enforcement work with another department. While they spend the first year at the starting wage, those with at least five years prior law enforcement employment advance to the 5-year level on the pay scale by year two.

Uniform allowance nearly doubled from $520 to $1,000. Three paid Holidays were added. Bereavement doubled from 40 to 80 hours. Parental Time for the birth of a child was added at 80 hours. Union Stewards are paid to attend Union meetings that occur on their scheduled work days. Formerly, Employees had to use PTO time to cover Union business.

Employees are rewarded for Longevity, which was maintained at 1 percent after 5 years up to 5 percent of base pay after 20 years. This amounted to significant increases on top of their raises. Those with 15 years of service receive 40 hours of additional Vacation Time, instead of the former 8 hours, for a total of 200 hours of Vacation Time at 15 years.

Sick Time payout at retirement more than doubled. The 50 percent payout went from 720 hours maximum to 1,660 hours maximum.

“We didn’t give anything up. We didn’t go backwards anywhere,” Alexander said. “We were having to hire people and they finally recognized if they’re not going to be competitive in the market, guys are going to apply elsewhere. Looking at the surrounding areas, we were well behind and this brought us up where we need to be. We’re in the ballpark with everybody else and we have a good pension and healthcare. It should entice some applicants.”