Probation and parole officers are getting raises after a two-year fight.
Gov. John Carney’s administration has reached a four-year collective bargaining deal with Unit 9, which includes probation and parole along with some other law enforcement agencies.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 10 President Todd Mumford said probation and parole officers will see about a 4 percent increase each year. Starting salaries will go from about $40,875 to $44,000 dollars in the first year and rise to $45,500 by year 4.
Mumford said he’s pleased with the result. But he notes new criminal justice initiatives being proposed by lawmakers and the state Attorney General may mean an increased workload.
“Probation and Parole is where the rubber meets the road," he said. "That’s where you’re going to see whether these things succeed or whether they fail. And in large part that’s going to have to do with the morale of the staff and the quality of the staff.”
Unit 9 also includes other law enforcement agencies like the Department of Natural Resources and Capitol Police.
Mumford said they were able to start to move their salaries closer to what correctional officers are making.
“The equivalent pay grades in the CO series are still quite a bit higher than what we’re getting paid, but we’ve closed the gap a little bit so we’re hoping that over the next couple contracts, that that gap will close even further,” he said.
The Carney administration also reached a four-year collective bargaining agreement with correctional officers. Officers will get $500 increases or more each year. The starting salary is going up $500 to $43,500 in the first year and reaches $45,000 by year 4. Correctional officers are guaranteed a two percent increase or "the minimum salary of where they fall yearly on the new matrix" - whichever is greater.
