The union representing corrections officers at Lancaster County Prison said Thursday it is "prepared to fight back" against the county commissioners' decision to reject 7-percent raises awarded to the officers by an arbitration panel.

Republican commissioners Dennis Stuckey and Scott Martin, who voted against the increased pay, "chose to ignore their legally binding obligation to the AFSCME represented men and women who work in the county's most dangerous work environment: the county prison," union director Mike Fox said in a statement.

Martin, however, said the commissioners are trying to treat all county employees alike in the face of a difficult economy. The board wants to freeze the salaries of all county employees next year.

"Obviously, everyone in these difficult times has to take a hard look at how we're doing things here in the county," Martin said. "This board, in the interest of fairness across the board, at every level, is looking to treat people in the same manner."

The commissioners have already announced they are eliminating 19 government positions in late December as officials struggle to close a budget shortfall for 2010. The move, designed to improve efficiency across county departments, will save taxpayers about $900,000 next year.

The corrections officers worked without a contract from Jan. 1 through much of the spring, until a court-appointed arbitration panel awarded them a 7 percent pay hike. The decision, which was retroactive to Jan. 1, also forced the corrections officers to contribute more toward their medical benefits.

The panel also awarded the 185 county corrections officers represented by the union 7 percent pay raises for both 2010 and 2011.

The county commissioners on Wednesday rejected, by a 2-1 vote, the panel's decision. By rejecting the arbitration panel's award, the county is in effect treating it as nonbinding for the years 2010 and 2011 — a move that will likely send the matter to county court.

"It's evident through this vote that the Republican commissioners would rather waste the taxpayers' dollars on lawyers to argue legally unsupported positions, than invest those dollars on the men and women who provide vital services to the citizens of Lancaster County," Fox said.

The county had 60 days to appeal the arbitration panel's award, which was reached on April 16. It did not do so, so how the county intends to proceed is unclear. Fox said its only real option is to honor to panel's award.

"That's what they're going to end up doing after they've wasted taxpayer dollars trying to avoid it," he said.

Democratic Commissioner Craig Lehman, the lone dissenter on the board, said he voted against Wednesday's measure rejecting the raises, in part, because of the potential for legal bills in the case.

tmurse@lnpnews.com