FOP: Concessions could save Butler County deputy jobs

Pink slips were handed last week out to 34 employees effective Aug. 16.

Jungle Jim's in Cleveland?
12:10 p.m.
Chabot’s son arrested in Oxford for making false alarm
11:19 a.m.
Ohio agrees to mortgage settlement deal
9:26 a.m.
Boehner says Congress will reverse Obama contraceptive rule
8:25 a.m.
Broadband expanding to lure jobs to Ohio
7:59 a.m.
> More headlines

By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 8:23 PM Thursday, July 30, 2009

HAMILTON — Butler County sheriff’s deputies may volunteer to take days off without pay to save jobs amid the recession.

Five deputies may be able to keep their jobs if enough individual members of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 101 decide to make concessions, said FOP President Brett Casteel.

More details will be available when decisions are made next week, Casteel said, adding that the plan involves four options for FOP members and could be done without opening up the contract for negotiations.

“There’s no guarantee with this deal,” Casteel said. “I hope that if we get it done, we don’t take another hit.”

Last week, Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones said that 34 employees were given pink slips and are slated to be laid off, effective Aug. 16.

The layoffs come as the sheriff’s budget has been cut by $900,000 as part of general fund cuts that total about $2.6 million.

Even if five deputies are retained through voluntary, unpaid days off or some other option, Deputy Chief Anthony Dwyer said there will still be a “huge impact,” as the office eliminates positions and lays off 21 part-time and eight full-time employees.

The corrections officers’s union is also looking at making concessions to save jobs. Dwyer said the process is complicated involving different scenarios of economic benefits versus satisfying services.

“It’s a very difficult time (dealing) with cuts that substantial,” Dwyer said. “It’s a very tricky process to navigate through.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2122 or rwilson@coxohio.com.

Share this article