A new five-year contract, with average annual wage increases of 3.5 per cent, has been reached between Barrie Police Association and Barrie Police Services Board.
The association represents 250 uniform and 125 civilian members of Barrie police.
The new deal also includes an increase in wellness supports and provides a small premium paid to front-line officers who work 12-hour rotating shifts.
Provisions within the collective agreement will allow Barrie police the ability to explore expanding the use of special constables throughout the community, including downtown Barrie and in neighbourhoods and areas that require specialized community engagement.
“(The new deal) will ensure the continued safety and security of our community for years to come,” said police services board chairman Greg Ferguson. “This contract will help to attract people to a career in policing and will help in the recruitment of new uniform and civilian members to our service.”
The new agreement was reached in late 2023 and recently ratified by the members of the association.
“The contract will certainly assist with retention of our current members and the attraction of new members to this exceptional profession,” said Barrie Police Association president John Brooks, who's a staff sergeant.
The previous five-year contract expired on Dec. 31, 2023. The new contract runs from Jan. 1, 2024 until Dec. 31, 2028.
How this new agreement will affect city police's 2024 budget is unknown. It will be presented to Barrie councillors at their Jan. 17 meeting, and will be part of the city’s 2024 operating and capital budget, which must be approved by city council.
Salaries, benefits and overtime were estimated to be 94 per cent of the 2023 police budget.
