At last month’s Bristol Township Council meeting officials approved a new collective bargaining agreement with the township’s police union.
The new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) has officers moving from eight-hour to 12-hour shifts schedule with changes to holiday pay and part-time employment policies.
Township Manager Randee Mazur said the new deal is focused on improving officer retention and competitiveness with surrounding municipalities.
“Technically, she said, it is a 4.5 percent raise, but the raise will be 4 percent with a 1/5 percent for shift differential.”
The new CBA reduces the time it takes for officers to reach their maximum pay rate from five years to four years continuity with increases now added as a dollar amount to officers pay.
“It was really nice to work with this contract committee. Very reasonable, understanding, fighting for the PBA, but also recognizing where they work, who they work for,” Mazur said about the negotiation process.
New hires will see a reduction in the maximum accumulation of sick hours and payouts. The contract also establishes an irrevocable decision deadline for officers considering the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP), which lets officers give advanced notice of their retirement so payments go into an interest-earning account receiving the payout at retirement. DROP payouts are in addition to pension checks and other money earned for time officers have not used.
Credit: Jeff Bohen Lower Bucks Source
Severance pay of 480 hours that current officers enjoy will not be a benefit offered to new hires in the agreement.
Bristol Township Council President Craig Bowen, remembering what negotiations and the general tenor of the relationship between the township and its peace officers were like ten years ago with “furloughs” in headlines everywhere, said this is the contract over the last five years without the word arbitration and that is major progress as far we’re concerned.
Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Sgt. Patrick Kitchenman echoed that sentiment.
“The PBA is happy to have reached an agreement with the Bristol Township Council on a contract. This contract will carry us until the end of 2028 and represents a fair recognition of the service and sacrifice made by our officers for the people of Bristol Township. We are happy to avoid arbitration and move forward with this resolved.”