Corrections officers approve new contract

LANSING - Corrections officers in state prisons have approved a new contract by a 72%-28% margin, the officers' union announced Monday.

The contract includes a one-year agreement for a 1% pay raise effective Oct. 1, 2016, and a 1.5% lump-sum payment that month, plus three-year deals on other contract language. The Office of State Employer insisted on a shorter deal on economics because of uncertainty over how a federal health care tax would affect the state budget.

“We’re grateful for those members who followed through and voted on this contract, whether they voted yes or no,” MCO President Tom Tylutki said in a statement. “They made their voices heard, in a time when they face so many challenges."

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Only about 1,800 of more than 6,500 Michigan Corrections Organization ballots were returned, the union said. Union officials said they would look for ways to increase participation in the future.

The MCO is one of five state employee unions to reach deals with the State Employer, but is so far the only union to announce membership support. If members approve the contracts, the state Civil Service Commission could give the contracts final OK on Dec. 16. Current contracts expire at the end of the year.