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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2010 > June > 28 > Entry
While some deputies are getting laid off, others are getting raises
At the same time Butler County sheriff’s deputies are pleading with commissioners to stop 23 planned layoffs — saying the safety of the community is at stake — those still employed are getting pay raises this year between 3 and 6 percent.
This amounts to roughly $500,000 in pay raises this year, according to Vicki Barger, sheriff’s office finance director.
And at the same June 24 meeting where commissioners approved roughly $3.6 million in cuts — leading to dozens of layoffs in the sheriff’s office, prosecutor’s office, courts and other departments — they approved pay raises for five employees.
All five are union members in Butler County Children Services, and got their raises as mandated in the county’s contract with that union.
Butler County leaders know they can’t force unions to make concessions outside of contract negotiations. But they say it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Commissioners are considering a policy that would ask unions members to suffer the same furloughs, pay freezes, hour reductions and other burdens laid upon non-union workers as the county struggle with budget deficits.
“We’re all in this together,” said Commissioner Donald Dixon. “It’s not one segment (of the workforce) versus another segment, it’s the county as a whole.”
“In my opinion, it’s only fair to ask everybody…to do the same.”
The county’s 13 unions represent more than 500 workers combined, according to county Human Resources Director Gary Sheets. He said commissioners can’t force them to make concessions; they can only try to negotiate them when contracts come up for renewal.
Several, including the Fraternal Order of Police contract representing sheriff’s deputes, are in negotiations right now. FOP President Sgt. Jeff Gebhart did not return calls for comment Monday.
Some unions have agreed in recent contract negotiations to not give pay raises if non-union workers don’t get them, but they have not been subject to furloughs, Sheets said.
Non-union workers under the commissioners have been handed 10 days of unpaid furloughs this year and had their pay frozen indefinitely, in addition to several rounds of layoffs.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: Butler County Sheriff's Department
Comments
By W.C. Fields
June 28, 2010 6:19 PM | Link to this
Is Butler Co. like Middletown, where pay freezes mean nothing? In Middletown during pay “freezes” they simply give frequent “promotions” or create new “positions” that are filled from within. Hiring “freezes” are likewise circumvented by then filling that newly vacated “existing” position with someone’s pal or boyfriend.
By Non-union worker
June 29, 2010 7:09 AM | Link to this
Welcome to the party Josh! This is the second year in a row non-union workers under the commissioners have been handed 10 days of unpaid furloughs! And the only raise the same non-union workers under the commissioners have seen in the last 3 years is in workload they have had to pick up from other non-union workers under the commissioners getting “downsized”! Breaking news “Union workers going to bank, non-union breaking backs”
By Funny Story
June 29, 2010 7:47 AM | Link to this
The old saying was “the fox is in charge of the hen house”. Butler County politics are no different.
By Iva Biggin
June 29, 2010 8:28 AM | Link to this
Why are we talking about deputies getting laid and getting off during these times? Aren’t there bigger fish to fry?
By In This Together
June 29, 2010 10:07 AM | Link to this
No Don Dixon we are not all in this together. Betty and the folks out at the BOE aren’t see the same cuts as the other county departments. Why is that Lover Boy Dixon? Also you continue to spend on construction out on Princeton Pike in the Old Agriculture Building. No, we are not all in this together.
By Public Safety
June 29, 2010 2:48 PM | Link to this
It cannot be about Safety. If there were a real concern for public safety then would not Sheriff Jones have laid off administrators and other non essential staff rather than the road deputies. If it is really creating a safety issue then one must say that Sheriff Richards Jones is in serious neglect and malfeasance of his office and his duties. Which way is it?
By Seeing Clearly
June 29, 2010 2:59 PM | Link to this
Typical union members, as long as they get their pay they don’t care about anything else. Typical politicians (Dixon and Jones) cut just so long as it doesn’t affect their political future or their political donors.
By justaquestion
June 30, 2010 7:48 AM | Link to this
Whats with Unions anyway? In my opinion, not fact or theory, all they do is hurt everyone else, while only helping a few select people. And you have to pay dues to unions? For what? For a few extra benefits and rewards that companies should be giving their employees anyway? For managing working conditions? Pay? These things should be regulated by the company or in this case, the state of Ohio, not a union, in my opinion. It just seems every time a Union comes up, there is nothing but trouble for everyone.
By nagmag
July 1, 2010 1:02 AM | Link to this
if not for unions all the illegals would be working at much lower wages and taking jobs working for the money people.see who would standup mfor you without a union. there would mbe no retirement, no health benefits and no job security. get in that line awhile
By unions don't help
July 1, 2010 4:45 PM | Link to this
I once had a union job in the 80’s after 6 months I was let go. When I went to the union to see if anything could be done I was told “You are the low man and the B.A.’s son needs a job so you have to go.” After this experience I will have not worked a union shop again and have urge everyone I know to vote no to any union or union sponsored proposal.
By pw
July 3, 2010 2:42 PM | Link to this
The county would not be in such a despirate mess had the GOP crooks not scammed the public. Look how many have gone to jail. How may more are under investigation. Jail them all.
By robert
July 4, 2010 8:24 AM | Link to this
Tell the Sheriff to fill the jails like he promised so they would make money. His promise did not mean anything, has money to go to Arizona
By Lloyd Deaton
July 4, 2010 2:07 PM | Link to this
I dont understand where all these Deputies came from to start with. My brother tried to get a job with city of Hamilton police dept. after coming home from Veitnam and was told the city didnt hire GED. People.Later on we found out the police dept. had personel working without any type of deploma. So people you put these people in offiice, so when election comes around do your duty and vote. I think the voters put one back to the hotdog stand,and we can do the same with the rest of these people.
By Terry Coleman
July 19, 2010 1:51 AM | Link to this
I do not have a problem with union leaders requesting wage and benefit increases.I do have a problem with the county commishner in charge with the approval of these demands. These county commishners are suppose to be working for the public and are in trust of the public treasury.They know that their job in on the line if they do not approve these unrealistic demands.The sheep in the union will be informed as to who to vote out of office. So we know all these sweet heart contracts will be approved.