Easton Police, City, Reach Wage Agreement

unanimously approved a tentative agreement with union representatives for the city's new police contract Tuesday evening.

The three-year contract will provide a 3 percent wage increase for rank-and-file officers in 2012, and further 2 percent increases in 2013 and 2014.

The contract also states:

• Shift differential pay will be 60 cents per hour for evening shifts, doing away with multiple shift differentials within the department.
• The contract will not expand the allowable residency area for EPD members and there are no pay increases for longevity.
• Extra pay related to college education will be capped at the master's degree level, and the city will not pay for additional degrees at that level, city officials said. Limited to a maximum of four courses per year, the degree stipend will remain the same. Reimbursement for tuition will be paid at Northampton County Community College rates for associates degrees, Kutztown University rates for bachelor's degrees, and at Boston University rates for master's degrees, regardless of the institution the officer actually attends.
• Additionally, the no-layoff clause will sunset at the end of 2011, and the Fraternal Order of Police Washington Lodge #17 will eliminate a sick-leave committee to deal with sick-leave abuse.
• Police officers' vacation is capped at 25 days for 21-plus years of service, and vacation time will not continue to accrue based on years of service. Additionally, the contract states no member of the department will be grandfathered in for more time.
• Stipends for K-9 officers will be increased from $1,000 to $1,500 per year.

Easton Mayor Sal Panto said he is pleased with the result of the negotiations, and thanked the FOP for their efforts, noting that both sides being reasonable made arbitration unnecessary.

“I think it is a very fair contract,” Panto said.

The 3-year wage agreement, set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2012, is expected to be passed officially at the council's next regular meeting, set for Wednesday, Dec. 7.