Hancock County Jail Employees Get New Contract

11/3/17 – 5:20 A.M.

The Hancock County Commissioners recently approved a new deal between the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and employees at the county jail. The Courier reports the three-year deal gives employees a 2 percent annual wage increase.

The deal is retroactive to March 8 and will cost the county $44,500 per year. Negotiations started in April and led to the union eventually declaring an impasse. The State Employment Relations Board held a hearing on the issue on September 18 and issued their report in early October. Both sides rejected that report and came to an agreement on October 16.

The agreement makes some changes to vacation time. An employee will receive three weeks of vacation after seven years of service, instead of the previous eight years. Vacation will increase to four weeks after 14 years of service, instead of the previous 15 years, and five weeks after 20 years, instead of the previous 25 years.

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