Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine this afternoon thanked 12 jail captains represented by the Uniformed Command Association for voting to waive any cost-of-living adjustment in their pay for 2011.

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King County Executive Dow Constantine this afternoon thanked 12 jail captains represented by the Uniformed Command Association for voting to waive any cost-of-living adjustment in their pay for 2011.

The union is the second to publicly respond to the Executive’s request to forgo COLA increases in light of the county’s general fund shortfall, and the first bargaining unit to formally approve a zero-COLA agreement.

“Our jail corrections captains are showing both leadership and fellowship with other employees across the county by agreeing to this proposal,” said Executive Constantine. “It shows what we can accomplish as a county when we start by seeking common ground, protecting hard-working employees and the services they provide. This action will help with our reform of how King County does business, and put us further along the road to sustainability over the long term.”

“This is one way that our members can be part of the solution and help with the budgetary crisis within King County,” said Captain Michael Woodbury, president of the Uniformed Command Association. “Helping the county return to financial stability means job stability for our members and service stability for the public.”

The union represents 12 jail corrections captains who act as shift commanders for round-the-clock operations of the King County Jail and the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, as well as commanding the internal investigations unit and other units in the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention.

The new contract provision will take effect on January 1, 2011.