Council ratifies two-year contract for correctional lieutenants with wage provisions tied to larger corrections guild

The Pierce County Council on Sept. 10 ratified Ordinance O2025-528, approving a two-year collective bargaining agreement with correctional lieutenants represented by the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, AFSCME Local 3752 LT. The contract covers 12 full-time equivalent positions in the Corrections Bureau and runs Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2026.

Pierce County principal policy analyst Paul Bokey told the council the agreement provides a 4% general wage increase effective Jan. 6, 2025, and includes a memorandum of understanding that links additional wage adjustments to the outcome of negotiations involving the larger Pierce County Corrections Guild. "Should the Pierce County Corrections Guild negotiate or be awarded a 2025 general wage increase of more than 4%, the parties agreed to provide the correctional lieutenants the same total general wage increase retroactive to Jan. 6, 2025," Bokey said.

Why it matters: The contract secures a retroactive 2025 wage increase for correctional lieutenants and ensures parity with any greater increases awarded to the larger guild representing corrections deputies, a mechanism designed to maintain internal pay equity within the countys corrections workforce.

Council members asked whether the lieutenants would need to vote to approve any later wage adjustments tied to the guild; human resources staff confirmed they would not need a separate ratification vote. The councils Rules and Operations Committee gave the ordinance a due-pass recommendation on Sept. 8.

The ordinance passed on a 7-0 roll call vote. Pierce County human resources staff were available during the meeting to answer questions, and the council thanked the HR team for completing the negotiation and ratification process.