New contract provides pay bumps for Glen Ellyn cops

Glen Ellyn police officers will receive pay increases over the next four years under terms of a new collective bargaining agreement approved by their union and the village board.

The 29 members of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 202 will receive salary increases of 2.5 percent, retroactive to Nov. 1, 2012, as well as 2.5 percent increases on Nov. 1, 2013 and 2014. They will see a 2.75 percent increase on Nov. 1, 2015, according to the contract.

The pact also includes a 1 percent “step” increase retroactive to Nov. 1, 2012, and again on Nov. 1, 2013, for officers who have been at the top step for at least a year. Also this year, those who are in the top nine steps will receive an additional 1 percent increase.

The four-year contract was approved unanimously this week by the village board and ratified by the police union. Negotiating teams for both sides met a total of six times since last September.

“It locks us in and provides some labor stability for four years,” Chief Phil Norton said. “Any time you enter into labor negotiations, a successful negotiation probably means neither side gets everything they want, but you can reach an amicable compromise.”

Norton said the new contract will put the salaries of Glen Ellyn officers “at or slightly above” the middle of other municipalities in DuPage County.

Norton and Village Manager Mark Franz wrote in a memo to the village board that the contract can be paid for and is in line with the village’s five-year financial forecast.

“We met with the village board in executive session and received the parameters for negotiations,” Norton said.

Other terms of the contract include:

Ÿ The number of so-called “assurance days” for each officer is reduced from two to one. Such days are guaranteed vacation days, unlike regular vacation days, which may not always be approved because of staffing levels, Norton said.

Ÿ Police will be paid more for working off-duty at events, an increase from $38 an hour to $48.

Ÿ The village agreed to notify officers by email of the availability of overtime.

Ÿ Retroactive to Nov. 1, 2012, detectives will receive a $500 stipend every six months. That amount goes up to $750 this year.

Ÿ A new top step is added for officer educational pay supplements. Now after 14 years of service, officers can receive $3,500; previously they could only receive $3,000 after 12 years.

The agreement, which expires Oct. 31, 2016, is the eighth contract since 1989, shortly after Glen Ellyn police officers became unionized.