New contract in place for Monessen police

The four-year deal includes pay raises, reduces health care costs and continues the department’s 12-hour shifts.

Monessen police officers will see higher wages, stronger benefits and new quality-of-life provisions under a four-year labor agreement city officials and the police department say is designed to keep officers in town and on the job.

Council approved the tentative contract with Teamsters Local Union 205, which represents the police, by a unanimous vote Thursday.

The agreement takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, and runs through Dec. 31, 2029.

The deal raises base pay for all ranks, expands longevity pay, lowers health care costs and locks in the department’s 12-hour shift schedule that guarantees officers every other weekend off.

Chief Dave Yuhasz says the agreement is less about short-term recruitment and more about longterm retention in a region where many departments struggle to keep a full roster.

The department currently operates with about 10 full-time and three part-time officers, not including the chief.

Under the deal, patrol officers will see hourly wages rise from $34.12 in 2026 to $37.28 by 2029, while sergeants will move from $34.84 to $38.07.

Captains will top out at $40.26 an hour by the end of the agreement.

Part-time officers will climb from $25 to $27.32, and a shift differential increases to 60 cents per hour.

Longevity pay, long viewed as a weakness in prior agreements, was restructured to reward career officers.

Officers will now earn an additional 1.5% of base salary every two years of service, up to a maximum of 15%.

Yuhasz said stability is key for a department that has gotten younger in recent years.

“The only seasoned officers now are basically me, Aaron (Thompson) and Chris Gray,” Yuhasz said. “We’ve got a lot of young guys. This contract gives them a reason to stay here and grow with the community.”

Health care changes are also expected to ease financial pressure.

Officers will contribute 8% of premiums, capped at $200 per month, for deductible plans of $2,500 or $5,000.

Copays will drop under the Municipal Benefit Services plan.

Life insurance coverage rises to $50,000 for active officers, with retirees receiving $12,000 in coverage after 2025.

Lt. Aaron Thompson, who represented the union during negotiations, said the city cannot compete dollar-for-dollar with larger municipalities offering six-figure salaries or hefty signing bonuses.

But he believes Monessen can compete on quality-of-life and benefits.

“We had to be innovative,” Thompson said. “We went to places like Jeannette and Clairton to see what they offered. We knew Monessen couldn’t match big-city money. But what we could do is make it worthwhile for officers to stay here, raise families here and retire here.”

The contract also raises the annual uniform allowance from $700 to $850, a change officers said was necessary as costs climbed.

“Two pairs of pants and a couple of shirts nearly hit the old cap,” Yuhasz said, noting pants alone can cost close to $100. Ballistic vests, replaced every five years, run more than $1,200 apiece.

Education benefits also grew. Tuition reimbursement increased from $75 to $250 per credit hour, limited to criminal justice coursework.

Thompson said the change ensures training supports officers’ professional development.

Field training also gets a major upgrade.

The city formalized a Field Training Officer program, paying FTOs an extra dollar per hour while mentoring recruits.

“Years ago, training was basically, ‘Here’s a map and keys, figure it out,’” Yuhasz said. “This holds us accountable and gives new officers real guidance.”

The department’s 12-hour shift schedule, officially adopted just before the COVID-19 pandemic, proved invaluable, Yuhasz added.

“The 12-hour shifts saved us during COVID,” he said. “When half the department was out, we were still able to cover shifts without burning out the rest of the guys.”

Those provisions include vacation accrual up to six weeks at 20 years of service, an additional personal day and the ability to bank up to 48 hours of comp time annually.

Uniform allowances rise to $850, and tuition reimbursement increases to $250 per credit. The city also agreed to cover short-term disability insurance.

Training was another priority. In addition to state-mandated requirements, the contract requires an extra 16 hours of specialized training each year, giving officers opportunities to pursue areas such as narcotics work or cyber investigations.

Yuhasz said the changes also matter for recruitment.

At a recent police academy visit, instructors told him Monessen’s package was one of the stronger deals offered in the region.

“When we went to the academy and talked to cadets, the instructor said, ‘This is a good deal,’” Yuhasz said. “That kind of validation helps us stand out when departments everywhere are struggling to find people.”

For residents, the stakes are local. Departments in nearby towns have faced high turnover and staffing shortages. Monessen hopes the new contract can avoid that cycle.

“Other places are paying people to go through the academy, and then those officers leave as soon as they find something better,” Thompson said. “This contract benefits the city because it gives officers a reason to stay. That stability means better service for residents.”

Yuhasz added that the city’s willingness to collaborate was critical.

“We have excellent support from the city,” he said. “Regardless of politics, everybody understood we had to make Monessen attractive to build and keep a solid roster. When the department succeeds, the community succeeds.”

Thompson has worked through negotiations since January and made sure to talk with officers of all tenures to see what mattered most to them.

Zane Zawislan graduated from the academy about a year ago and was hired full-time in Monessen in January, right when negotiations started.

He’s happy with the final deal, especially as a young officer in a new city.

“I like it here, and I think the new contract gives officers better everything, from money to benefits to training,” he said.

“I think our roster and our officers have a lot to give, and we’re happy to come up with something that is forward thinking to benefit them, their families and the city the work to protect,” Yuhasz said.