By Mark Gilger Jr.
Republican & Herald
POTTSVILLE, Pa. — The Schuylkill County commissioners approved a new agreement Wednesday with the union representing prison employees.
The previous collective bargaining agreement with the Teamsters Local Union No. 429 expired Dec. 31, 2014. The new agreement will last until Dec. 31, 2018. The union represents 45 correction officers, three maintenance workers and a secretary at the county prison.
The new contract allows the county to add more part-time corrections officers.
“It’s a huge advantage for the county to add part-timers,” Martina Chwastiak, county director of Human Resources, said. Using part-time employees will help reduce overtime costs while not having to pay more for health insurance, which Chwastiak said is the largest expense for the county.
The contract also includes 3 percent raises each of the four years and gradual increases in the starting and top-rate pay for corrections officers and health insurance co-pays.
The top-rate pay for corrections officers will increase from $24.05 in 2015 to $26.28 by 2018. Starting rates will be 75 percent of that and will increase to 85 percent after six months and 100 percent in two years. Full percentage was previously given after one year.
Healthcare contributions are currently 2 percent of base pay. That will gradually increase 0.5 percent each year until it is 4 percent in 2018. That means the monthly contributions will go from $106.30 in 2015 to $185.87 by 2018.
In other business, the average monthly inmate populations has increased for August. According to the warden’s report, there was an average of 314 inmates at the prison in August. Population peaked for the month at 326.
On Wednesday, Warden Gene Berdanier said there were 311 inmates at the prison. Sixty of them were triple celled, meaning three inmates to a cell meant for two. There are 277 permanent beds at the county prison. It has a suggested capacity of 240, which takes into account other factors like inmates that may need to be housed alone.
Prison board chairman and county Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. said the board has received offers from Cumberland and Delaware counties while “actively pursing” another facility for intermediate placement. Halcovage said the offers are still being negotiated and all options are being explored as far as services and space available.
There are currently three staff vacancies at the prison: a corrections officer and two lieutenant positions.
Sixteen inmates joined the pre-release program in August, according to the warden’s report. There were a total of 61 offenders participating in the program for the month, saving 1,434 total jail days. Four participants were removed for violations.
Pottsville Area School District has enrolled inmates in its high school diploma program. All inmates 21 and younger who have not already graduated are eligible. Since the start of the school year on Aug. 31, 17 inmates were interviewed for the program. Eleven have enrolled in class, including two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old.