Oneida County & Sheriff’s Office Reach Collective Bargaining Agreement with Police Benevolent Association

County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. announced today that a collective bargaining agreement has been reached between Oneida County, the Sheriff’s Office and the Police Benevolent Association, Inc. (PBA) that includes implementation of a new wage scale and additional annual increases, as well as increases to shift differential, field training officer, cell phone and SWAT Team pay and expansion of retiree health coverage.

”I’m very pleased  that we came to an agreement that is advantageous to our employees and our taxpayers,” Picente said. “I believe this contract is fair to all sides involved. It gives the valued members of the Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol Unit and our 911 Center employees the compensation and benefits they deserve for keeping this community safe. I thank Sheriff Maciol and all of those who worked diligently throughout this long negotiation process to come to this resolution.”

The eight-year agreement covers the period of Jan. 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2028. It includes the following:

• One-time lump sum payments, new wage scales and annual salary increases S & D Scale titles.
• Increase in shift differential pay.
• Increase in field training officer pay.
• Increase in compensation for employees assigned to carry a cell phone.
• Increase in compensation to SWAT Team members.
• Increase in meal and uniform allowance and reimbursement.
• Expansion of retiree health insurance coverage.

“This is a great day for the Road Patrol Division of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office,” said Sheriff Robert Maciol. “I would first like to thank County Executive Picente for his steadfast commitment to safeguarding our county by ensuring that we will be able to retain and attract the best deputies for the Sheriff’s Office for years to come. I would also like to thank the Board of Legislators for their approval of this historic agreement that makes a significant investment in public safety in Oneida County.

“I am pleased that the members of the PBA have shown their strong support of this agreement through their overwhelming ratification of 107-2. Thank you also to PBA President John Ford and his team for their work throughout this process. Even though the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office have had to deal some of the most challenging times in law enforcement ever over the last several years, they have done so with the highest level of commitment and dedication, and I am grateful to them for that.”

Agreement negotiations began in 2021 and initially proceeded to Interest Arbitration, which was then withdrawn and concluded by voluntary agreement. PBA membership, which includes the Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol Division and the Oneida County 911 Center, approved the agreement by vote of 107–2 on June 10, 2024.

The County negotiation team was comprised of County Executive Picente, Sheriff Maciol, County Attorney Amanda Cortese-Kolasz and Attorney James Roemer.

The collective bargaining agreement was approved by the Oneida County Board of Legislators at today’s monthly meeting.