Johnson County Sheriff’s Office union employees get 3 percent wage increase

IOWA CITY – Union employees in the Johnson County Sheriff's Office will receive a 3 percent pay increase under a one-year contract awarded by an arbitrator.

Also, employees will contribute $5 a month toward single-coverage health insurance. They have been paying nothing. Family plans will cost employees $40 a month, up from $35.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors Thursday night approved the collective bargaining agreement for the fiscal year that starts July 1, said Lora Shramek, the county's human resources administrator.

Public Professional and Maintenance Employees Local 2003 represents 61 Sherriff's Office employees.

The sides failed to reach an agreement through negotiations and mediation, so the matter went to arbitration.

Arbitrator Harry Graham of Solon, Ohio, sided with the county on insurance and with the union on wages, Shramek said.

The county had proposed a 2.75 percent wage increase, she said. The union wanted to continue with no employee contribution for single-coverage insurance, she said.