Officers to receive $3M for switch from central sick bank

Police officers in Waterloo region will be paid $3 million to switch their current sick bank system to a long-term disability plan.

It comes after the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board came to an agreement with the Waterloo Regional Police Association because the current sick bank system is "not sustainable," Region of Waterloo Chair Karen Redman says.

Redman, who also chairs the police services board, said there were "more people drawing on the sick leave days than we had in the bank."

A report going before the police services committee Friday afternoon notes the increase in use of the sick bank for civilian employees is also "in a critical position."

Cost-effective change, says region chair

Redman says moving to a long-term disability plan overseen by a federally regulated insurance company will be more cost effective in the long run.

"It will allow the leadership of police services to backfill jobs when people are off on long term disability. Whereas now that job just continues to stay open," she said.

The $3 million to be paid out to officers would come from the general reserve, which was set up to handle "unanticipated contractual matters," the report to the police services board says. 

There is currently just over $3.5 million in that reserve fund.

The anticipated cost for long-term disability plan premiums would be $2.7 million, the report said. That will be added to the 2020 budget.

Negotiations with the police association started in the spring to come up with a new memorandum of understanding to handle sick days. The union members ratified the tentative memorandum on Aug. 12.

The Waterloo Regional Police Services Board was not expected to meet in August, but will now meet Friday afternoon. The report's recommendation is to ratify the agreement.