Douglas County board OKs big pay raise for new jail guards

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - County commissioners have approved a big raise in starting pay to entice applicants for guard jobs at the Douglas County Jail.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the board backed a contract offer Tuesday that would raise the jailers’ starting pay to $21.25 an hour from $17.35 an hour - about 22 percent. The offer includes a raise of about 3 percent for current employees.

Officials say the offer addresses a staffing shortage that’s resulted in mandatory overtime. Union leaders say they’ll support the contract offer, which will be voted on by membership within two weeks.

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Information from: Omaha World-Herald, http://www.omaha.com