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Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans Announces Historic Public Safety Union Agreements
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2023
Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans Announces Historic Public Safety Union Agreements that Improve Wages and Benefits
Transformative collaborative bargaining agreements include substantial wage increases, retention stipends and other benefits.
WAYNE COUNTY, MI - Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans has reached historical ratified collaborative bargaining agreements with the Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM); along with police captains, lieutenants and sergeants represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3317; and attorneys in the Prosecutor's Office and Corporation Counsel represented by the Government Bar Association (GBA). These new agreements, including the POAM agreement which must be approved by the Wayne County Commission, are the result of all parties' shared interest in strengthening public safety in Wayne County.
"In close collaboration with dedicated union representatives, Prosecutor Worthy, and the Wayne County Commission , we maintain our focus on bolstering public safety throughout Wayne County. Through these agreements, our unified vision is clear: to safeguard our 43 communities by retaining and attracting the brightest talent," affirmed Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans. "I am pleased our union members have shown their strong support of this vision through their overwhelming ratification of these agreements."
"This is great news, and I am excited about the results," says Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington. "The improvement in wages and benefits was not only the right thing to do, but truly a step in the right direction for our department and the County of Wayne."
Highlights of the agreements include:
POAM (Deputies, Detectives and Corporals), Ratified and Pending Approval by the Wayne County Commission
· 24% wage increases over the next three (3) years, including:
o 13% increase immediately following Commission approval
o Additional 5% increase on October 1, 2024; and 3% increase on October 1, 2025, for a total of an additional 8%
· Retention bonuses of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, based upon years of service
· Up to $5,000 new hire incentive
· Employee healthcare contributions reduced from 25% to 20%
· Employer paid parking for all employees
"As the President of the Wayne County Deputy Sheriffs Association, I would like to thank the entire WCDSA Membership for all the continued daily support. The daily service, sacrifice, and contributions of all the dedicated men and women of the WCDSA strengthen and fuel this Union," said Cpl. Allen A. Cox IV, WCDSA President. "It's also in retrospect of that fact that I also, on behalf of the entire Wayne County Deputy Sheriffs Association, thank Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and his entire Executive Team. They listened and put action behind their words. We negotiated for the greater good of all parties, and an agreement was reached. There's still much to be done in the future, but the actions that occurred were paramount to our agency's survival. The results of these negotiations reflect the hope of a Deputy Sheriff resurgence in Wayne County with a dedication and commitment to ensuring the viability and sustainability of the current Deputies here and all the future Deputies that may come."
AFSCME Local 3317 (Police Sergeants, Lieutenants and Captains), Ratified and Approved by the Wayne County Commission in May 2023
· 23.5% wage increases over the next four (4) years, including:
o 7.5% increase implemented in May 2023, immediately after Commission approval
o Additional 5% increase on October 1, 2023 and 2024; and 3% on October 1, 2025 and 2026, for a total of an additional 16%
· Retention bonuses of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, based upon years of service
· Employee healthcare contributions reduced from 25% to 20%
· Employer paid parking for all employees
GBA (Prosecuting and Corporation Counsel Attorneys), Ratified and Approved by the Wayne County Commission in August 2023
· 15% increase in wages for entry level attorneys, increasing the starting salary from $60,500 to $75,000.
· Retention bonuses of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, based upon years of service
· Employee healthcare contributions reduced from 25% to 20%
· Employer paid parking for all employees
"This new contract for Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys (APAs) is indeed historic and transformative. It makes Wayne County APAs among the highest paid in the State at every level, as we do over 65% of all the criminal prosecutions in the State. This, along with the other items that CEO Evans has mentioned, will make us competitive, and will allow us to recruit and retain at a much higher level, "said Prosecutor Kym Worthy. "It will help us bring down our huge backlogs and has already attracted interest in lawyers coming and returning to our office. I thank CEO Evans for working with me personally for many months, and the GBA for putting a team together to make this happen."
"The members of the Government Bar Association (GBA) are overwhelmingly pleased with the significant contract improvements negotiated with Wayne County, including increases to salaries and on-call pay, as well as a historic agreement on paid parental leave. We look forward to the implementation of these necessary and long overdue contract improvements. As President of the GBA, I would like to thank CEO Warren Evans and COO Genelle M. Allen for collaboratively bargaining with the GBA. The GBA also thanks both Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy for her staunch and unwavering support for our members, and Corporation Counsel James Heath. The GBA is hopeful that these positive and unprecedented changes to our collective bargaining agreement will help attract and retain attorneys to serve the citizens of Wayne County. The GBA strives to make the positions of assistant prosecuting attorney and assistant corporation counsel an attractive, sustainable, and rewarding career choice, and these contract changes will meaningfully advance that goal," said Amanda Morris Smith, GBA President.
"These agreements benefit these hard-working individuals who do so much to keep our county safe," Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) said. "They also indicate that this county is serious about attracting and maintaining topflight employees."
"Elevating public safety is paramount, and Wayne County is no exception. To do so, we must invest in the industry, drawing top talent. These skilled individuals bring innovation and dedication, ensuring our communities remain secure and resilient. Simultaneously, we're changing the culture at Wayne County, fostering an environment of excellence, accountability, and community-focused service. These investments and cultural shifts aren't just choices; they're our commitment to a safer, stronger future," asserted Deputy County Executive Assad I. Turfe.
Wayne County is actively engaged in collaborative bargaining with all other unions who represent County staff. The results thus far are a testament to a new philosophy towards enhancing our workplace culture where staff at all levels have a voice in negotiations and operate as one cohesive team.
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