Nassau County, NY - Today’s announcement marks the first labor contract signed between Nassau County and one of its unions under County Executive Laura Curran. The new eight and one-half year pact ratified by the Nassau County Police Department Detective’s Association (DAI) membership is a dramatic restructuring of the terms and conditions of Nassau County’s Detective workforce.
New Career Path for Nassau County Detectives
First and foremost, this new contract will immediately remedy the chronic shortage of Detectives which has challenged the Nassau County Police Department over the last several years. The salary scale and structure of Detectives is revamped by creating a new three-tier system of progressive Grades thereby creating a career path within the Detective Division. The promotion di?erential over the salary of Police O?cer is increased and the time to reach Detective Third Grade ‘top pay’ is reduced, incentivizing recruitment. The creation of a new First Grade Detective, paid 10% more than the new Second Grade top pay, will encourage retention within the Detective Division. All Detectives will receive raises annually beginning in 2020 of 2%; 2%; 2.5%; 2.5%; 3% and 3% over the term of the agreement in addition to a $2000 lump sum payment covering two prior years.
An Agreement within Nassau County’s Financial Plan
The new agreement respects the enormous financial stresses faced by the County in several significant ways.
- All Detectives will work at least five additional tours each year with new Detectives working an average of twelve additional tours. These extra hours will immediately put more Detectives on the street, enhance safety and increase our policing response in the County.
- All Detectives will begin contributing to their health insurance starting next year
- The new agreement will slowly reduce the entitlement to termination pay.
- To assist the County in funding the new contract, Detectives will forego some vacation days for three years thereby adding even more hours for detective work.
- Additionally, lump sum payments will be made, and no general wage increases are included for the first two and one-half years of the contract (2018 and 2019).
The agreement also addressed the longevity pay. The DAI opted to continue the lawsuit rather than receive a form of longevity pay upon retirement.
President Wighaus said “I am very proud of my members for recognizing the value of this new contract. These were tough negotiations but the importance of the work Detectives do each day was recognized by the County.”
County Executive Curran hailed the agreement as an important building block in the financial turnaround of the County. “This agreement shows that hard work at the bargaining table can produce fair wage increases that don’t burden Nassau’s taxpayers. I commend President John Wighaus for his leadership of the Detectives Association and his members for supporting the agreement which provides a pathway for restoring our Detective ranks,” said County Executive Curran.
The agreement will be submitted to the County Legislature for its approval early next month and, thereafter to NIFA. This Agreement was negotiated cooperatively by the County’s staff and NIFA.