Lexington, corrections lieutenants, captains agree on contract

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – The City of Lexington has reached an agreement with its Corrections lieutenants and captains on a four-year collective bargaining contract.

“Our corrections managers are a critically important part of our public safety team,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “They have difficult jobs, made even more difficult by the pandemic. The new contract agreement recognizes and rewards the important contributions they make to our community.”

The contract is retroactive to July 2019. It runs through June 2023. The contract provides annual pay increases of 1.5 % every year. Most officers will see a 4.5% pay increase immediately, pending approval by the Urban County Council.

A final Council vote is expected on Sept. 16.

The overall estimated increase to the contract over its lifetime is estimated to be around $120,000 through June 2023, according to Gorton’s office. The additional amount for this budget year which runs through June 30, 2022, was budgeted in personnel, the mayor’s office said.

In addition, other benefits include increasing the annual uniform allowance from $500 to $600, the monthly uniform allowance from $60 to $75 and cell phone monthly from $40 to $50. Those additional costs are included in the $120,000, according to the mayor’s office.

All of these amounts included in the total above amount.

In addition the acting pay provision was clarified and leave is required to be taken in minimum 4 hour increments under most circumstances.  Most other changes are clarifications.

The officers are represented by the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Local 2785.

“Although these contract negotiations were delayed by the pandemic, this was a positive, professional process that has resulted in agreement that is good for the corrections lieutenants and captains and the City,” Gorton said. “Instead of an adversarial process, this was productive. Both sides came to the table in a timely fashion to find common ground.”