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| Corrections wage legislation waiting for House vote |
| By republicanherald.com |
| Published: 02/21/2012 |
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PA - Legislation addressing pay differences between corrections managers and lower-ranking officers in the state Department of Corrections is still awaiting on approval in the House of Representatives. However, the bill's future looks promising since it was already included in Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed 2012-13 budget earlier this month. Known as Senate Bill 1019, the legislation addresses the possibility of a union officer to earn more than their non-union managers. "This bill essentially says we have to give these people a raise," Sen. David Argall, R-29, the bill's prime sponsor, said last week. The bill passed the Senate on Jan. 24 by a final vote of 45-5 and Gov. Corbett's proposed budget provided $8.2 million in salary increases for state correction managers. There was no date set for the House vote on the bill. "There are several different ways a bill can cross the finish line," Argall said. "For the first time in a long time, the government and the department of corrections are paying attention to this issue. I believe that part of the budget will certainly survive." Salaries for managerial positions in the state DOC were frozen while lower-ranking officers, who are contracted with a union, still received annual raises, making it possible for officers to earn more than their managers. "The pay jump from sergeant to lieutenant has disappeared since the pay raise was eliminated for a number of years," Susan Bensinger, spokeswoman for the state DOC, said Thursday. "There was no incentive for a sergeant to make the jump to lieutenant. It is a difficult environment to work in and it was a bit of a morale problem." Argall said without the financial incentive, there was no reason for sergeants to go through the required testing for promotion, possibly leaving the position available to a less experienced officer. Read More. |
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