FARMINGTON – Members of Teamsters Local 340 at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department will receive a 2 percent wage increase for each of two years of a revised contract, and a 3 percent increase in 2009 with an additional 2 percent increase mid-year.

The three-year contract inked Tuesday by Franklin County commissioners and union stewards covers about 40 unionized road deputies, dispatchers and corrections officers.

Both parties say they were not satisfied with a mediator’s recommendation, but accepted it to move the process forward. Union members had been working under a contract that expired Dec. 31, 2006.

The contract is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2007, and runs through Dec. 31, 2009.

Local 340 business agent Kenneth Eaton said the agreement gives a 2 percent retroactive wage increase for Jan. 1, 2007, a 2 percent increase retroactive to Jan. 1, 2008, a 3 percent increase effective Jan. 1, 2009, and a 2 percent increase effective July 1, 2009.

There is also a one-time bonus of $750 for employees working prior to Jan. 1, 2006, Eaton said.

Health insurance remained the same, with the county picking up a single plan and dependent coverage paid by the employee.

There were also some improvements made in sick leave and personal leave, Eaton said.

He called the contract a win-win for both parties, but added, “Neither one of us were entirely happy with the mediator’s recommended settlement … It was ratified by our side and subsequently we look forward to get back into negotiations in 2009 for a successor agreement.”

County Commissioner Fred Hardy of New Sharon, chief negotiator for the commissioners, agreed with Eaton about neither party being satisfied with the recommendation.

“I guess I’m pleased to have it done with,” Hardy said. “Remember, this was done by mediation, so basically as far as I’m concerned in my personal opinion and not speaking for the other two commissioners, we reluctantly agreed to the terms.”