Commission approves multiple labor agreements covering blue-collar, white-collar, deputies and youth services center staff

Bernalillo County commissioners on Tuesday approved a series of collectively bargained contracts covering multiple employee groups, including blue‑collar, white‑collar, deputy sheriffs and youth services center staff.

The nut graf: Human Resources and negotiating teams presented tentative agreements reached with unions after mid‑spring negotiations. Approved contracts provide across‑the‑board and targeted wage increases (most commonly 2% or 3%), include new paid holidays for some units and align drug‑and‑alcohol testing language with county policy. A youth services center agreement secured an 8% increase intended to address recruitment and retention for a high‑turnover facility.

Human Resources Director Bernadette Perez and labor negotiators summarized agreements. Highlights included: a two‑year contract with AFSCME Local 14‑61 that contains a 2% general wage increase and higher increases for hard‑to‑fill positions; a three‑percent raise for deputies covered by the Bernalillo County Deputy Sheriffs Association (BCD S A); a two‑percent increase for AFSCME blue‑collar foremen and white‑collar locals; and an 8% hourly increase for Youth Services Center bargaining unit employees. Several agreements added Indigenous Peoples Day and Juneteenth as paid holidays and revised drug‑testing alignment to county policy.

Commissioners voted to approve all agreements by voice vote; management and union representatives were in chambers for the meeting. County Manager Cindy Chavez said remaining negotiations (firefighters, MDC) are at impasse or in mediation and staff will return with timelines.