Salisbury Raises Starting Police Pay After Eliminating Collective Bargaining

SALISBURY, Md. — The Salisbury Police Department announced an increase in starting pay following the city council’s decision to eliminate collective bargaining for the city’s three unions.

City of Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor said, “We need to make the adjustment given the county’s increase in pay, so we made the adjustment, and I think we satisfied the police department.”

The Salisbury Police Department has been feeling the pressure of a nationwide police recruitment and retention problem. SPD’s starting salary of $57,413, a stark contrast to the $71,017 the department now offers. Chief Meienschein said the increase keeps the department competitive in recruiting.

“The goal for us wasn’t to be higher paid than anybody else, just to stay in the marketplace,” said Chief Meienschein.

He said there is still work to be done.

“We’re talking about vehicles, what’s left in the budget for us to close the loop on and just keep our foot on the gas,” he said.

Other city workers, however, feel left behind.

AFSCME field representative Jack Hughes said, “What makes me feel bad? They give money to one group, which is fine, but how about the other people who do the work? Who do your trash collection, your water, you know, who keeps your water clean?”

Hughes said their union attempted to meet with the mayor to discuss wage proposals in January. Since then, they have met only once.

“You can’t very well negotiate a bargain when they refuse to even meet. So, you know, this is not about money. This is about control,” said Hughes.

Mayor Taylor said the city had two years of negotiations but that removing the union is about getting the budget under control.

“What we’re in the business of doing right now is kind of righting the ship. We had two years of negotiations, which put us kind of behind the eight ball,” Taylor said.

Union workers have started a petition to put the issue on a referendum. The deadline to collect signatures is July 6.

Hughes is collecting signatures at the AFSCME location in Salisbury, “We have to get, 20% signature, 20% of the city. You have to be a city resident to sign the petition, and we have to get 20% to get this put on a referendum.” said Hughes.