Hoffman Estates firefighters get new contract

I just came across some interesting news about a new contract deal for the firefighters in Hoffman Estates. The Daily Herald reported that after months of back-and-forth, the village and the firefighters' union have finally reached an agreement on a six-year contract. It seems like everyone involved is pretty happy with the outcome, especially since they managed to avoid involving lawyers in the negotiation process.

According to the article, last summer, the union won a contract through arbitration that was retroactive to January 1, 2012, and was supposed to last until December 31, 2014. However, the village wasn't too thrilled about one particular aspect of the contract—a provision granting firefighters 72 hours of unearned time off annually that could either be used, accrued, or cashed in. With 83 firefighters on staff, the village found it challenging to manage this kind of additional time off, both in terms of scheduling and potential payouts. So, in the newly negotiated contract, they managed to reduce that number to 48 hours, with the stipulation that any unused time must be taken or paid out within the same year it's earned. That seems like a fair compromise to me!

Another key point in the updated contract is the wage structure. Firefighters will receive a 2.5% raise in 2012, no increase in 2013, and another 2.5% bump in January 2014. On top of that, there's a 1% raise scheduled for March 2014, followed by 1% raises on January 1st and July 1st for the years 2015 through 2017. Union President Dean Slater expressed satisfaction with these terms, emphasizing that the union prioritized finding ways to save taxpayer dollars during the talks.

For those who want more details, the Hoffman Estates village website has a summary of the contract. They mention that this agreement resolves an ongoing appeal related to the original arbitration award from 2013. Both sides kept communicating throughout the appeal process, eventually reaching a voluntary settlement. Some of the highlights include extending the contract term to December 31, 2017, cutting out a salary increase for 2013, and making adjustments to health insurance contributions and benefits. In return, the village agreed to provide additional personal leave options and set wage increases over the next few years.

Hoffman Estates Mayor William D. McLeod praised both negotiating teams for their efforts, noting how important it was to keep communication channels open. Union President Dean Slater echoed similar sentiments, expressing gratitude towards the Village President and Board of Trustees for their cooperation. Overall, it sounds like this agreement strikes a good balance between what the firefighters need and what the community can afford.

It’s always nice to see local governments and unions working together to find solutions that benefit everyone involved. Kudos to both sides for getting this done!

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