Carbon County officials have finalized the last of seven union contracts that needed to be negotiated this year.

On Thursday, the board voted to approve the collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME District Council 87, AFL-CIO, Local 2483, effective Sept. 1, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2026. This union represents several employees in the offices of the Clerk of Courts, district attorney, prothonotary, public defender, register of wills/clerk of orphans court and sheriff.

When asked why the contract didn’t start retroactively back to Jan. 1, county administrator Eloise Ahner said that the union agreed to the Sept. 1 effective date.

She noted that there are wages in the new contract that will be retroactive back to January for any union member who was employed in those departments before September.

Under the terms of the agreement, the county incorporates the employees’ hourly start rates and years of service for the initial salaries for 2024. After that, these employees will receive 3% raises in 2025 and 2026. The remaining terms, including benefit time allowances, health insurance and prescription copays, remain the same.

Commissioners’ Chairman Mike Sofranko pointed out the county was able to keep the salary increase percentages in line with what has been normal, which is approximately 3%.

Carbon County has been working through negotiations with its unions over the last several months.