Press Release:

Two unions representing captains and court protection marshals in the King County Sheriff’s office have agreed to forgo their cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for next year, as a result of negotiations guided by King County Executive Dow Constantine.

“Each new agreement shows how hard our represented employees are working with our labor team to find ways to preserve services for the public,” said Executive Constantine. “I thank both bargaining units for stepping up and standing with their fellow employees to make this modest but important sacrifice.”

Ratifying agreements are 22 sheriff’s captains in the Puget Sound Police Managers Association, and 26 members of the King County Court Protection Guild.

“Our Association’s members have taken a 0% cost of living increase for 2011 in recognition of these difficult economic times,” said Captain Scott Somers, negotiating team spokesperson for the Puget Sound Police Managers Association. “We look forward to working with Executive Constantine, the Council, and other leaders to provide for the safety and security of the communities we serve.”

“The King County Sheriff’s Office Marshals voted to show our support to Sheriff Rahr, Executive Constantine and the citizens of King County by joining with the other labor groups during our current economic crisis,” said King County Court Protection Guild President Bill Bales.

The two agreements will save $104,000 in the County’s General Fund – $62,000 from the sheriff’s captains and $42,000 from the court protection marshals. As with other COLA waivers, these savings will help offset reductions proposed in the Executive’s 2011 budget for public safety services.

A total of about 6,250 represented employees – or nearly 57 percent of the County’s 11,000 unionized workers – have now agreed or tentatively agreed to waive COLA for next year. More than 13,000 people in all provide King County services to the public.

Altogether these agreements will preserve about $11.4 million in services for 2011. Of that, about $4.4 million of the savings is in the General Fund.

The Sheriff’s Office employees join adult and juvenile detention officers, jail correction captains, deputy prosecutors, court support staff, and thousands of other County employees from a wide cross-section of county departments who have tentatively agreed or voted to waive their COLA for next year to preserve services. Those include the Animal Control Officers Guild; marine engineers, captains, and deckhands property appraisers in the Assessor’s office; and employees covered by the Washington State Council of County and City Employees and the King County Coalition of Unions.

Executive Constantine froze the salaries for all of his appointed staff and has been joined by the separately elected officials in putting the same measures in place for their offices.