PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — The union representing deputies in Pierce County is urging its members to look for jobs with other agencies after contract talks with county leaders stalled, yielding what the union called an inadequate pay offer, KOMO reported.
After 14 months of negotiations, the Pierce County Deputy Sheriff’s Guild says the county has proposed a 10% raise spread over three years, an offer the union calls “insulting” and far below the pay offered by neighboring agencies.
In a message sent to members this week, the union stated, “We are here to tell you that if you are waiting for meaningful compensation from the County Executive’s office regarding your future, he is not willing to compensate you for it, and we, as a bargaining team, suggest you further your professional career elsewhere.”
The update included links to job postings at other local departments, including Tacoma, Bonney Lake, Puyallup, Gig Harbor and Lakewood.
Guild President Shaun Darby told KOMO News that deputies in Pierce County are paid up to 30% less than their counterparts in Tacoma.
“This is [the county’s] first written product that they’ve offered us in 14 months, and it’s a 10% raise over three years. It’s not competitive at all,” Darby said.
The county, however, argues that its offer is in line with regional norms.
“The current proposal includes significant pay increases and robust benefits that are both competitive and sustainable,” said a spokesperson for County Executive Ryan Mello.
According to county data, deputy pay has increased 19% over the past three years.
Mello’s office also pointed to his advocacy for H.B. 2015, a bill recently signed into law that allocates $100 million for law enforcement recruitment and retention statewide. It’s unclear how much of that funding will benefit the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
Still, Sheriff Keith Swank placed blame for the stalled talks directly on the executive’s office.
“The executive does not believe in compensating you the way you deserve to be compensated,” Swank said in a message to deputies, adding that a previously agreed-upon proposal was rejected by Mello.
Swank also criticized former leaders for failing to secure a new contract before leaving office earlier this year.
Low pay and staffing shortages have become pressing concerns for the department. Darby said that in some cases, a single deputy is responsible for patrolling areas with up to 63,000 residents.
“We have the lowest staffing ratio in the United States…” Darby said. “If our members are trying to raise a family in Pierce County and need the money, this is not the place to do it.”
