Deal with police union includes raises, bonus

KINGSTON, N.Y. » Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan and the Ulster County Police Benevolent Association have reached an agreement that, if approved by the Legislature, will give union members across-the-board pay increases and a signing bonus and will see the county pick up a greater share of health insurance costs.

The Ulster County Police Benevolent Association represents deputies, detectives, sergeants and dispatchers in the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office.

“This new contract recognizes the hard work of our employees, especially given the challenges that they have faced since the outbreak of COVID-19,” Ryan said in a press release Tuesday announcing the deal.

As proposed, the fiveyear pact would run from Jan.1, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2024. Although few details were provided in the press release, the tentative deal calls for employees to receive a $1,250 “off-base signing bonus,” and across the board raises that Ryan said would help with both recruitment and retention in the department. The contract also calls for the county to pick up a greater share of employee health insurance costs.

The agreement comes two months after the Ulster County Legislature approved a contract with the Ulster County Sheriff’s Association, which represents corrections officers and civilian employees in the Sheriff’s Office. That contract also runs Jan. 1, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2024. Employees covered by the Sheriff’s Association received a 3.5% in base salary effective Dec. 31, 2020, a 3.5% increase in base salary on April 1, 2021; a 2% increase in base salary plus a 25-cent increase on Jan. 1, 2022, with an increase in longevity payments; a 2% increase in base salary plus a $.25 increase on Jan. 1, 2023, and a 2% increase in base salary plus a $.25 increase on Jan. 1, 2024.

If the contract with the Police Benevolent Association is approved by the Legislature, all Ulster County bargaining units will be under contract.