Orlando, Florida, September 6, 2007: While state, city and county budget cuts negatively affect law enforcement throughout Florida, local Orange County deputies and supervisors voted overwhelmingly to ratify a two-year collective bargaining agreement with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) on September 5, 2007.

This is the first collective bargaining agreement covering the Orange County corporals and sergeants and the second consecutive contract for Orange County deputies, who are represented by the Florida Police Benevolent Association, Inc.

The ratification concludes many months of negotiations between the PBA and the Sheriff’s Office. Central Florida PBA President John Park and Vice President Mike Smith said that they were pleased with the support for the bargaining agreement shown by the Orange County deputies and supervisors. "We made significant improvements in the prior deputy contract and integrated these improvements into the first-ever supervisor contract despite the gloomy economic landscape throughout Florida, especially for law enforcement. Both PBA bargaining teams and the Sheriff's Office bargaining team worked through many issues and remain committed to improve wages, benefits and work conditions in the future."
 
Finalization of the collective bargaining agreement awaits only the signature of Sheriff Beary. When implemented in late September 2007, deputies can expect to see base pay raises in the range of more than 8-10% for the span of the contract based on their years of service. The deputies and supervisors will also receive a one-time $450 ratification bonus, topped out bonuses, a 50% increase in longevity pay, quicker premium overtime pay, increases in certain specialty pays, tuition reimbursement, shoe and clothing allowances, off-duty pay, etc. This does not include all the benefits that were secured by the PBA from prior contracts and/or precedence. Additionally, there will be a PBA/OCSO Pay Committee established to address and potentially provide enhanced pay for the FY08/09 year of the contract.

Central Florida PBA President John Park states, "We humbly appreciate and are honored by the majority of the deputies and supervisors who expressed their confidence in the PBA and we will continue to do our best for them and their families."