AkronNewsNow.com

AUDIO Deputies Concession Talks Stall
3/12/2010 1:43:31 PM | Larry States, AkronNewsNow.com

it appears 30 furloughed Summit County Sheriff's deputies won't be returning to their jobs any time soon.

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A second round of concession talks between the Summit County Sheriff's Department and deputies have broken off with no agreement that could bring 30 deputies back from layoff.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 139 president Doug Quiner says the deputies offered concessions totalling just over $1.1 million, but the County rejected the offer. Quiner says the County wants $1.5 million in concessions.

Quiner says last year the union rejected the county's request for unpaid furloughs, with an estimated savings of $1.7-million. The result was the layoff of 30 deputies.

Doug Quiner tells AkronNewsNow " It's disheartening. I'm sure the Sheriff's not happy and disappointed . The bottom line is the people who control the money, you know they cut the Sheriff's budget $3.4 million this year, which was a significant cut, and there wasn't a whole lot of ways to make things up."

LISTEN to Quiner discuss breakdown in negotiations

The union chief says the stalemated talks could have an impact on contract negotiations slated to begin in September. The deputies current contract expires at the end of the year. Quiner says "maybe something could change between now and September, or maybe not. I really don't know at this point which way this is going to go. "

LISTEN to Dodson comment on breakdown in negotiations

Jason Dodson, chief of staff for Summit County Executive Russ Pry, tells AkronNewsNow "We had left the deputies bargaining committee with a proposal that would be 12 furlough days throughout the end of the year. In that proposal what we had agreed to do is essentially give up over $300,000 of the required savings. It was our understanding they would be getting back to us. Today they issued a press release where we're intepreting that they're not in a position to give a counter at this point, or discuss things further. I think its unfortunate, I think that the County has sat down at the table, has negotiated in good faith, and has put together a proposal that really represents a compromise."

Dodson questioned whether the deputies and FOP Lodge 139 were serious enough about getting their fellow furloughed deputies back on the job.

There's no indication when the two sides will decide to resume negotiations.

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