McHenry County imposes contract for transportation workers

The McHenry County Board voted Tuesday morning to impose a new contract for employees of the county’s division of transportation when an agreement couldn’t be reached with the union after nearly a year of negotiations.

The contract with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 gives 30 or so employees 2-percent raises retroactive to Dec. 1, plus raises of 2 percent or the increase given to nonunion employees — whichever is greater — in 2012 and 2013. Starting rates are set at $18.25 per hour, with a 25-cent increase each in 2012 and 2013.

The board voted 16-5, with board members John Hammerand, Nick Provenzano, Donna Kurtz, Ersel Schuster and Randall Donley dissenting. Board Chairman Ken Koehler and board members Mary Donner and Peter Merkel were absent.

“There is only so much we can give,” board member Scott Breeden said, adding the county participated in lengthy negotiations before taking this step.

Hammerand said he believes raises should be uniform.

“Either we don’t give them to anyone or everyone gets the same,” he said.

Nonunion employees got 3-percent raises this year, although their salaries were frozen in 2010.

Union employees had been working without a contract since July, said Local 150 lead negotiator Bob Paddock. “County employees are very, very upset,” Paddock said.

The union voted to reject the county’s final offer, which then the board voted to impose. Documents show the union wanted larger raises in 2012 and 2013, as well as base-pay increases based on years of service. The new contract will result in higher health care costs for employees, Paddock added.

The county has imposed union contracts in the past, including for employees of the coroner’s office and of the animal control division, said McHenry County Director of Human Resources Robert Ivetic. “It happens occasionally,” he said. “Mutual agreement is clearly the best solution.”

Paddock said the union filed a bad faith bargaining charge against McHenry County with the state’s Labor Relations Board and is planning to file another one after Tuesday’s decision.

Local 150 employees got 3-percent raises in 2008, and 2.75-raises in 2009 and 2010, Paddock said.