Collective bargaining deal for police ends contentious county standoff. What it means.

The Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #111, has lauded the announcement that the contentious Collective Bargaining Agreement between police and county officials was approved.

In an official release, the organization noted it was excited that, after several weeks of continued effort from the Collective Bargaining Unit Negotiations Committee, the county executive and her staff, along with a representative from the Wicomico County Council, reached a deal to which all parties agreed.

"We are beyond excited to implement this new agreement with our FOP," said Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano. "While we took longer than anticipated, this agreement was worth the wait. It includes an increase in wages, an increase in longevity pay, the implementation of a 2.5% Cost of Living Adjustment in retirement and will compensate our deputies for their field training."

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County council and due diligence over Collective Bargaining Agreement

Giordano noted the new agreement would be a tool in attracting new deputies and retaining the current workforce in the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office.

The CBA had been previously rejected by the Wicomico County Council on the grounds they still needed more time to receive and study a completed draft of the agreement.

Late on June 25, the council received an actuarial study from the company CBIZ to determine if the agreement could be funded. After receiving that information during a special meeting on June 26, the council unanimously approved the agreement, which they had rejected on May 21.

"The FOP has incurred additional attorney's fees and faced uncertainty during the last few weeks as we continued with the impasse process guaranteed by the County Charter. However, now that the Council has approved the CBA, the CBU Negotiating Committee voted today to withdraw from arbitration," the police organization stated.

The organization noted it is glad the council accepted the information from CBIZ, which was consistent with the information provided by the County Finance Director on May 21.

"We're pleased to have come to an agreement with the FOP on the Collective Bargaining Agreement," said Wicomico County Council President John Cannon. "It was a long process that was somewhat tumultuous, but the reason for that were unnecessary delays from the start. As a result, certain dispersions were cast on the council for doing their due diligence. We wanted to make sure this agreement was sustainable for the citizens of the county."

Under the new agreement, the CBA will provide sheriff's deputies with an improved pay scale, higher starting salary, and, most significantly, a cost-of-living adjustment for any deputy who retires after the agreement takes effect on July 1, 2024.

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