Arbitration ends on St. Charles police sergeants' contract

The more than two-year saga of St. Charles coming to terms on a labor contract with nine police sergeants is over.

City and police sergeant union officials confirmed Tuesday that legally binding arbitration hearings are over and now all that remains are the final signatures on a contract which went into effect Monday.

The city council will announce the details of the agreement when it meets Sept. 8. However, both sides expressed relief that the long process is over, even if perhaps some tension remains.

"We unionized because we wanted to be recognized under the law by the city, and we wanted there to be written guidelines that would guide our labor agreement," Sgt. Don Shaw said. "All we wanted to do was be brought up to the same standards as the patrol officers. An arbitrator makes decisions based on facts, not emotions or personalities. We needed someone to do that in this process."

Tension between Shaw, the union and the city is not new. The city fought a legal battle against the union's formation and Shaw previously sued the city after he lost his title as chief and became a sergeant.

With that as the backdrop, Shaw expressed frustration that the union contract took so long to complete.

"In a way, this was no different than when (City Administrator Brian) Townsend came to St. Charles," Shaw said. "When he came, he negotiated a contract. With all due respect, I know it didn't take 21/2 years to get it done."

"Anything worth having is worth working for," Townsend said. "This is particularly true with the first labor contract between union and employer."

"We believe that the time, effort and resources expended on this document has provided significant benefits to the City of St. Charles and the taxpayers we serve," he added. "The City of St. Charles is satisfied with the arbitrator's decision, and we are pleased that he ruled in the city's favor on many of the significant issues presented to him."