County approves two‑year labor agreement with correctional officers union

The Crow Wing County Board authorized the county to enter into a two‑year labor agreement with Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) Local 16, covering approximately 49 correctional officers, effective Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2026.

Amy Fisher, human resources manager, presented key terms of the tentative agreement. The deal includes a 2.5% range increase for 2025 and a 3% range increase for 2026. For 2025 the contract also provides additional within‑range movement tied to performance (an additional 2% movement in 2025), and a performance‑based matrix for 2026 (described by staff as a 5/4/3/3 matrix depending on position in the range).

Other contract provisions Fisher summarized: adding Juneteenth as a paid holiday; expanding bereavement leave to include a life partner; using the full PTO accrual table at hire as a hiring incentive; updating PTO to comply with Minnesota’s new sick and safe time statute; increasing cash‑in‑lieu PTO from 40 to 60 hours; increasing the county healthcare savings plan contribution from $25 to $30 per month; establishing a deferred compensation match schedule ($100/month for the remainder of 2025 then $50/month in 2026); increasing training pay by $2 per hour; and raising shift differential from $0.70 to $1.00 per hour for nights and weekend hours. The agreement also clarifies special‑assignment language (adding court officer), adds a severe weather exception to ESST, and extends drug and alcohol testing policy language to include cannabis.

Fisher said the parties negotiated a two‑year agreement to align this unit’s contract cycle with other county bargaining units. The board voted to authorize the county administrator, HR manager, sheriff and chair to sign the agreement.

Commissioners approved the tentative agreement by motion; no public objections were recorded on the item.