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Lawyers in DA, public defender offices get contract
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Attorneys in Allegheny County district attorney's and public defender's offices have a new contract, providing them with raises over the next three years.
Part of the United Steelworkers union, the arbitration award was approved on Oct. 12. Allegheny County dissented, but because the union and arbitrator agreed, it is approved. The contract is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2011, and is good through December 2014.
The agreement covers approximately 200 employees, including attorneys in both the county's prosecution and defense offices, as well as investigators with the DA's office, forensic pathologists, scientists in the county crime lab, crime scene analysts and members in the Office of Court Records.
The raises are 3 percent in the first two years and 3.25 percent in the last two years of the contract.
The new contract also doubles the contribution the union members must pay for their health insurance from 1 percent of their salaries to 2 percent.
"We're happy it's over," said Assistant District Attorney Larry Sachs, who is the president of the bargaining unit. "Nobody's had a raise since 2010. Given the current state of the economy, we're happy with the results."
First Published October 22, 2012 11:38 am
