Pa. County owes corrections officers $3M

Pa. County owes corrections officers $3M

Ruling ends legal battle of several years over an arbitration award of raises totaling 21 percent over three years

By Dan Nephin
Lancaster Online

LANCASTER COUNTY — Lancaster County will have to pay about $3 million to its corrections officers after the state Supreme Court refused to hear its appeal of an arbitration ruling awarding raises.

The ruling brings to an end a legal battle of several years over an arbitration award of raises totaling 21 percent over three years.

In 2009, the county paid raises to its roughly 190 corrections officers, but contended that having to pay them in 2010 and 2011 would require a tax increase, which it didn’t want to enact.

Corrections officers were pleased with the ruling, dated Sept. 11.

“This has been a long and hard-fought battle for almost four years that has tested both the morale and resolve of the corrections officers at Lancaster County Prison,” Brian Secor, a 14-year corrections officer, said in an email Friday.

Full story: Lancaster County owes prison guards $3 million