COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A new three year contract between Branch County and the union representing 9-1-1 dispatchers has improved the manpower situation at Branch County Central Dispatch to the point where all of the previous vacancies are filled.
Branch County 9-1-1 Director Bob Swick told the County’s 9-1-1 Board on Wednesday that they currently have nine full time dispatchers with two in training which gives them a full staff of 11 dispatchers.
Swick said the new contract led to two dispatchers coming back after they had left while another stayed on after they were planning to leave.
The 911 Center has faced manpower shortages is recent years thanks in large part to lower wages when compared to nearby counties. The starting salary of over $50,000 for Branch County 911 dispatchers was found to be the lowest in the region.
Branch County 911 thought about hiring an independent contractor to help with the manpower shortage earlier this year but it was felt the money would be better spent on salaries for staffing.
The agreement with the Police Officers Association of Michigan that was approved by the County Commissioners in early June increased wages to allow Branch County Central Dispatch to be more competitive with other agencies.
Under the new agreement, starting pay for a new dispatcher went up by almost two dollars an hour. After six months, the wage would bump up to $21.92 per hour and after one year of employment, a dispatcher would make $22.44 per hour.
All other dispatchers received a pay hike of a little more than two dollars an hour. The new pay scale took effect on July 1.
The new agreement also calls for time and a half pay on holidays and for any hours worked over 80 hours in a pay period.
In addition, all dispatchers would see a three percent raise in each of the last two years of the contract.
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