Published Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2001
FARRELL, WHEATLAND, WEST MIDDLESEX
Tentative contract reached; police haven't signed dealThe Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Commission and the police union have agreed to a tentative contract and the municipalities are starting the formal process of approving it, but the contract has not been signed.
Michael Barr, attorney for Joseph Volansky Lodge 34 of the Fraternal Order of Police, said small issues remain and contract language needs to be settled before the union will sign the pact.
"They're not major issues but they need to be resolved," he said. "I think we'll be able to resolve them."
Barr would not say what the issues are, but pay is not one of them.
"The economic package is pretty set," he said.
Barr said he hopes the issues can be settled by the end of the year.
The four-year pact that was negotiated gives full-time policeman 3.2-percent wage hikes. Part-time wages would jump from $9 an hour to $9.50 the first year, and to $10.25 by the end of the contract.