Yakima County Deputies Could Finally Have Contract

A long, drawn-out labor dispute between Yakima County sheriff's deputies and the Yakima County commissioners is over.

On Tuesday the commissioners approved a new labor agreement with the deputies. Commissioner Mike Leita says, “I’m looking forward to future labor negotiations and when we can avert the huge expense. Taxpayers' expense that came forward to negotiate over these last four years to this point in time.”

The agreement still must be approved by the Yakima County Law Enforcement Guild, which represents the 53 deputies whom have been working nearly four years without a contract.

The agreement calls for 6.5 percent pay increase and a $1,450 signing agreement payment under the contract that covers 2011-15.