- April 18, 2024
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A new three-year bargaining agreement between Volusia County and the International Union of Police Associations, representing the county's beach safety specialists, was unanimously approved by the County Council at its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 14. This contract includes pay raises and a $2,000 retention bonus.
Union president Ben Whetstine, a sergeant with the county’s Beach Safety division, said the contract passed with 94% of union's support. The agreement was ratified by a 40-3 vote and Whetstine said he felt the contract is a "solid foundation" to build upon in the future.
“I’m proud to be part of an agency that has such a profound impact on the residents and visitors to Volusia County," Whetstine said. "Countless times, the members of Beach Safety are part of lifesaving efforts that garner lifelong gratitude from the victims, their families and their loved ones. Often, these are rescues that would be career highlights in other agencies, but among the elite workforce I work with, we perform these rescues so often that they are our norm, and though often unlauded, it is no less impressive or impactful.”
According to a county press release, the agreement — which replaces a contract that expired in September 2020 — with the beach safety specialists, senior lifeguards and lifeguard supervisors calls for covered employees to receive a 3% raise for the last fiscal year and a 4% raise, or $1 an hour (whichever is greater) or the current fiscal year. The raises will increase the minimum hourly pay to $16.65 for beach safety specialists, $21.10 for senior lifeguards and $25.51 for lifeguard supervisors.
For fiscal year 2022-2023, which is the last year included in the agreement, Beach Safety employees will receive either a 3% raise or "whatever pay raise is approved for the rest of the county employees, whichever is greater. This will be dependent, however, on the County Council not adopting a rollback millage rate" the press release states.
Should the county go to rollback next fiscal year, the county and the union will re-negotiate.
In addition, the agreement also includes a one-time $2,000 retention bonus for covered employees in exchange for signing a two-year employment commitment. Over the last 20 months, Beach Safety has had to replace 16 of 41 beach officers and four out of 11 beach safety specialists, said Beach Safety Director Andy Ethridge.
“That’s a lot of people to put through training and that’s put a tremendous [strain] on my training staff, as well as my existing staff who have really stepped up to fill the gap and make sure that the mission is carried forward, and that there is very little disruption in service," he said.
But, things seem to be looking up for the division. Ethridge shared that, despite many law enforcement agencies struggling with staffing shortages, Beach Safety anticipates to enter the summer season with all of its full-time positions fully staffed.
"I think this contract is going to go a long way in helping me maintain that status," Ethridge said.
