GAINESVILLE, FL:

     Not all Alachua County employees are getting the three percent pay raise approved by county commissioners this week.

     Officers at the county jail-- who have been in a stalemate with the sheriff over their contract-- aren't going to see the money for a while.

     Union members say sheriff sadie darnell is using the pay raise as a bargaining chip.

     "Its disappointing..."

     The reaction to a long contract dispute between the correctional officers at the Alachua County Jail and Sheriff Sadie Darnell.

     Now things are coming to a head because darnell says she will not pass along that 3% raise to those officers who are at an 'impasse' with the Sheriff.

     Jeff McAdams President of  Fraternal Order 67 of Police said "One single person in the entire county can say yes you could have this raise that you so desperately deserve and that is the sheriff of Alachua County."

     In a letter Darnell wrote: "i am prohibited from granting this to you due to your bargaining unit's impasse stance."

     While the fraternal order of police believes the sheriff is using the money as a bargaining chip.

     Sheriff's spokesperson Art Forgey says that is not the case, saying "While they are in impasse it prohibits them from negotiating to get the money back and her from approaching to give the money back."

        So far both parties have exchanged emails but instead of agreeing on the situation. While the Alachua County Sheriffs office says its something they will propose the FOP says this isn't something to be bargained but what's owed to them.

     both parties agree things need to be negotiated...

    Forgey "She has been more than willing and more than up front about giving that money back its just got to be negotiated."

     But the fop says its not right to keep this money dangling over these workers.

     McAdams said "The three percent is not a luxury to go buy a boat.. Its a luxury so they can feed their families."

     Mcadams didn't say whether this really would speed up the negotiations, but he did say it would lower morale.
     
     To resolve the impasse, the arbitrator will hear both sides and reach a decision they find most fair and beneficial to both the officers and the Sheriff's Office.

     If they don't agree to those terms then the dispute goes in front of the the county commission.