Baltimore County Executive C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger's decision to pump $20 million into police salaries has put pressure on the county to pay millions more to firefighters, nurses and other union workers.

Ruppersberger calls the new police contract a one-of-a-kind deal to help recruit and retain good officers and boost salaries that were among the lowest in Maryland.

Union leaders say the police pay package, coupled with an expected $60 million county surplus, has raised hopes for significant pay increases among members of the five other unions negotiating contracts.

"The membership is looking for big numbers," said Norman A. Anderson, a heavy-equipment operator who represents 700 blue-collar workers as president of the Local 921 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

"We hope [Ruppersberger] will be as generous with the firefighters as he has been with the police," said Kevin B. O'Connor, president of the Baltimore County Professional Firefighters Association. The union represents 969 members.

This week, the police union membership approved a contract offer giving officers a one-time $3,500 pay raise next year and annual raises of 4 percent to 8 percent in each of the next three years.

That's an inviting target for the five other county unions negotiating contracts: blue-collar workers, correctional officers, sheriff's deputies, nurses and firefighters.

Nancy DiPaola, president of the 100-member Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses, said her group wants to keep pace with the police in terms of salaries.

The nurses' starting pay of $29,400 is $400 more than what police currently earn.

She said many nurses have been overlooked in terms of pay increases and think they should earn more because being a registered nurse requires two years of training.

"For years, these negotiations have been pitting the boys [the police] against the girls [the nurses], and we'd like to change that," she said.

Issue for deputies

Sgt. Michael Corrigan, who is negotiating for 60 sheriff's deputies, said his members want the option police have of retiring after 20 years. Deputies also would like a pay increase, he said.

"I'm very happy for the police, but we really have our own issues and needs," he said. "Everybody wants more money."

Perhaps the most vocal are the firefighters. Like all public employee unions in Maryland, they have no right to strike, but they have had a stormy relationship with Ruppersberger, publicly criticizing him and picketing his office during past contract disputes.

O'Connor said that without a significant pay raise for firefighters, the police contract would mean pay disparities of "several thousand dollars" between police and firefighters of comparable rank.

"The disparity will be significantly greater in Baltimore County than in any other jurisdiction in the state," he said. "They're completely through the roof."

Firefighters' pay

Under the current contract, a firefighter with 10 years' experience earns $36,798. Under the police contract just approved, a 10-year officer first class, which is a basic promotion, will earn $43,599 next year, he said.

County officials said none of the other unions -- including the firefighters -- should expect the kind of raises given to the police.

Fred Homan, county budget officer, said the police contract means the amount budgeted for police salaries will increase from $64.8 million to $88.7 million in four years. The higher figure includes $3.6 million for previously negotiated pay step increases, he said.

Ruppersberger, out of town on vacation, said in a statement that the police contract was a "market-driven" decision based on the need to attract and keep good officers.

"In this economy, everyone is hiring police officers, and we've had a hard time getting them and keeping them," said Robert Barrett, a special assistant to Ruppersberger.

Fewer than authorized

The Police Department loses 75 officers a year to retirement and resignation, has not filled a training class in three years and has 1,653 officers despite a budget authorization for 1,713, county officials said. By contrast, the Fire Department had 1,800 applicants for 55 positions this year, they said.

"The reality is that with fire positions, we've got people waiting to be firefighters, while we can't fill the classes we have to train our police," said Michael H. Davis, a Ruppersberger spokesman. "The firefighters think they're the same as police, and they're not."

O'Connor said police deserve the pay raise but that the salary differences are reaching a point where many firefighters are talking about quitting or applying to the Police Department.

"We don't begrudge them their pay raise, particularly given the confrontational nature of their work," he said. "But firefighters work hard and put their lives on the line, too."

County officials said they had hoped to settle a contract with the firefighters before the one with the police but that the firefighters union rejected their offer.

O'Connor declined to comment on specific issues being negotiated but said the county's first offer was "laden with contractual give-backs" and that a federal mediator has been called in to resolve disputed issues.

'Positive' talks

Meg Ferguson, county labor commissioner, said that in general, the tone of contract talks with the five unions has been "positive."

She said agreements with all county unions should be reached before Ruppersberger presents his budget to the County Council on April 16.

Pub Date: 3/06/99