Some Butler County government workers will receive 3% wage increases this year and each of the next four years following their ratification of a contract Thursday, March16.

The contract will run through Dec. 31, 2027, and includes increases for offices such as Children & Youth Service and the Area Agency on Aging.

The workers intended to strike March 15, but reached a five-year agreement with the county just before they were set to hit the picket lines last week, officials said Monday.

Members of the Service Employees International Union Local 668 and county representatives hammered out an agreement, and a vote to ratify the contract was taken Thursday. A union representative said 90 members were present.

County negotiator Chris Gabriel said both parties are pleased with the contract.

“We reached a negotiation settlement that was fair and that made sense budgetarily for the county,” he said Monday.

“Union members stood in solidarity to eliminate an unfair tiered-wage system that prevented newer employees from making equal wages with their co-workers doing the same jobs. Now, all employees have a pathway to earning the full job rate for their work,” a union news release said.

Employees had announced their intent to strike after negotiations for wage increases stalled for months. Union representatives notified commissioners of their intention on March 4 in an effort to receive a fair contract.

“From my perspective, they were seeking primarily to lessen the impact of the wage tier we negotiated three or four years ago,” Gabriel said.

In addition to pay increases and eliminating the tiered-wages system, the new contract includes affordable health insurance, according to the union’s website.

“They’re happy both sides reached that agreement,” Gabriel said.

County Commissioner Kevin Boozel said he feels the negotiating team did an amazing job on the agreement.

“They hit some mile markers with the agreement. We gave a little bit, the gave a little bit. We’re all pleased with it,” he said.

The commissioners plan to discuss the agreement at the March 29 meeting.