At the December 19 township council meeting Business Administrator Robert Hary announced new contract terms with the Policemen’s Benevolent Association and Superior Officer’s Association. West Windsor’s police force had worked without a contract for two years.
Hary said negotiations were contentious at times but a settlement was reached through mediation with a state-appointed arbitrator, appointed in early 2011 after township council could not strike a deal with the two unions. Hary says around December 10 the arbitrator completed work on a new three-year agreement for 2010, 2011, and 2012. Details are as follows:
— For 2010 police wages would increase 2.5 percent; for 2011 and 2012 there would be consecutive two percent increases.
“Givebacks” would include:
— Starting salary for any new patrolman hired after January 1, 2012 would be reduced from $45,832 to $41,288.
— An eighth step will be added to police wage increases, equally distributing pay hikes from starting salary to year eight. Officers previously reached a maximum pay amount in year seven.
— Longevity payments would be reduced in half for any new hires. Hary says longevity pay would start at $250 after five years but will max out at $1,500 after 20 years of service, as current tenured officers receive $3,000.
— College and professional coursework would be acceptable for reimbursement only if they were in the subject areas of police science or criminal justice for any officer that is not currently enrolled in a degree program.
Firefighters could be next to agree to a deal. Like the police unions the previous contract between the township and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) expired on December 31, 2009. It remains the only outstanding township contract.
