County, Jail Officers Settle On 2-Percent Raises In New Contract

Just two months after taking over Morris County Corrections Facility operations, the board of chosen freeholders has unanimously approved a new contract with 173 officers who work at the jail.

The board voted 6-0 Monday night to approve 2.16-percent raises in each of the next three years for the members of PBA 298, similar to an agreement made with 28 superior officers at the jail last month.

The contract is a drastic change from the previously negotiated pact between Sheriff Edward Rochford and the PBA, which called for raises anywhere between five and eight percent annually during a three-year period.

Under the approved contract, all new hires to PBA 298 will not be eligible for lifetime retirement health care.

According to the county, Rochford knowingly negotiated contracts far exceeding the state mandated two-percent tax cap, offering four contracts including:

• 7.9-percent annual raise for Corrections Officers PBA 298
• 5.3-percent annual raise for Corrections Officers Superior Union
• 8.3-percent annual raise for Sheriff’s Officers PBA 151
• 7.3-percent annual raise for Sheriff’s Civilian Employee’s Association

All four contracts were rejected by the freeholders earlier this year.