Riverhead Town and the union representing Riverhead police brass reached a deal this week on a labor contract retroactive to the beginning of this year and running through the end of 2026. The agreement provides for a total wage increase of 19% over a 3 ½ year period.
The town’s agreement with the Riverhead Town Superior Officers Association — which represents probationary sergeants, sergeants, detective sergeants and lieutenants — provides for a salary increase of 6% retroactive to July 30, 2023, a 2% pay increase in 2024, a 4% increase in 2025 and a 6% increase in 2026.
The agreement also provides for increases to night differential pay. The pay will increase 2.5% each year during the contract period.
The stipulation of agreement, signed by both a union representative and town officials on Wednesday, is scheduled to be ratified by the Town Board at its meeting next week. The contract between the SOA and the town expired at the end of last year. The agreement was last extended in 2020 for two years and provided for a 2% increase in base pay in both 2021 and 2022.
The base-pay increase bumps the starting salary for a probationary sergeant to $152,082 in 2023, rising over the contract term to $171,008.81 in 2026, according to the salary schedule attached to the agreement. A lieutenant will have a base salary of $176,897.29 in 2023, rising to $198,911.81 in 2026.
The new agreement also requires employees to have 10 years of service with the Town of Riverhead to be eligible for retiree health insurance benefits and sets new procedures for an officer requesting sick leave. The town and the SOA will also look into an improved dental plan for the union at the SOA’s request, according to the agreement.
The agreement with the SOA marks the end of negotiations between the town and three employee unions. All three unions’ labor agreements expired at the end of last year.
In March the town settled its contract with the Civil Service Employees Union, which covers the town’s civilian workforce, providing salary increases of 5% in 2023, 2% in 2024 and 2% in 2025. All employees covered by the contract also received a $1,500 supplemental payment. In August the town settled its contract with the Riverhead Police Benevolent Association, which represents the town’s rank and file police officers, providing salary increases of 6% in 2023 and 2.5% increases in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
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