Police voting on new contract

The union rank-and-file had okayed a draft version of the agreement, but the union's negotiator and national representative said the 'clean' version needed to be ratified.

Union members have been working without a contract since the end of 2009. Key issues have centered on wages and compensation. The Skagit Valley Herald reported that the city was offering raises of6.5 percent over a 3-year period. The paper quoted City Human Resources director Emily Schuh as saying the city offered 2.25 percent hikes for 2010 and 2011, with a 2 percent hike for 2012.