'Tis the season for labor talk
Last week I spoke with Officer Florene Williams, head of the Hoffman Estates patrol officers union, which covers 80 cops.
She called me the day after the story broke about the new five-year labor deal between the village and police union. The contract was the longest in recent memory, as the past deal went three years.
Williams told me officers were content with locking in 4 percent annual raises for the next five years given the poor outlook for the economy. The contract is retroactive from the start of this year and goes through 2012.
While village officials said the two sides had a December date with an arbitrator scheduled, Williams added that there was another earlier date scheduled for last month. The negotiations had been going slowly, having started back in October 2007. The two sides did eventually came to an agreement without an arbitrator.
This time of the year seems ripe for labor talk. About year ago, Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 was on alert as teachers were on the brink of a strike before settling.
Just in case you were wondering, a rookie cop in Hoffman Estates will make $56,091 in 2009. A starting teacher's base salary in 2009 will be around $49,827, depending on the rate of inflation, which is around 2.8 percent.
Public works open house: The village's public works department hosts its open house from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 15, at 2305 Pembroke Ave. The free event features demonstrations of the department's weather-tracking system and close-up looks at snow-removal equipment, which hopefully won't be needed as much this winter.
For those who are concerned about trees, there will be an arborist on hand to provide information. That could come in handy to residents in Charlemagne Park, the ones who worried the village would cut down trees to place an LED sign in their neighborhood.
Questions on the village's sewer and water system will also be answered.
And if you're curious how the village will make its new street signs, there will also be a demonstration. Stop by for free refreshments. For more info, call (847) 490-6800.
• Do you have a Hoffman Estates story idea? Contact Ashok Selvam at (847) 427-4475 or aselvam@dailyherald.com.