Union, County Reach Contract Agreement

The union representing correctional workers, highway supervisors, 911 employees, and office workers has reached an agreement with the county.

As part of the agreement, members of the Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees will receive regular step and longevity increases and a guarantee of no layoffs or furloughs through June 30, 2015 in return for increased pension contributions made by corrections officers.

Currently, corrections officers contribute 8 percent of their salary to the county pension system. As part of the agreement, corrections officers hired after July 1, 2011 will contribute 10 percent.

"I am very pleased that the County was once again able to reach an agreement with labor," said Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz in a statement released by the county on Wednesday.  "It is another indication that our labor groups understand that if we are going to be able to avoid furloughs and layoffs and provide a pension that will actually be there when workers retire we must have a wage and benefit structure that is fair for employees and sustainable for taxpayers."

The county Federation of Public Employees represents about 1,600 employees.

This is the fourth union to reach such an agreement with the county in recent months.

The Baltimore County Professional Fire Fighters Local 1311; the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #25 representing County sheriffs; and the Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses representing Baltimore County nurses .

Currently only the Baltimore County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #4 and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees have not reached contractual agreements with the county.

The union agreed to the contract Aug. 29, according to the county statement.