Island Lake get concessions from public works union

In an effort to prevent layoffs, Island Lake officials on Thursday amended a labor contract with public works and administrative support employees.

The changes affect about a dozen full-time employees who are members of Local 150.

The terms of the new deal weren't publicly disclosed at the village board meeting, but outside of the boardroom Mayor Debbie Herrmann said the alterations affect employee benefits such as health insurance and days off rather than salaries.

The changes were approved by a 4-3 vote. Trustees Donna O'Malley, Connie Mascillino and Don Verciglio voted for the deal, while Laurie Rabattini, John Ponio and Don Saville voted against it. Herrmann broke the tie by voting for the deal.

The vote followed a closed-door, executive-session meeting of the board that lasted for more than an hour.

The changes will be effective for the remainder of the current fiscal year, which runs through April 30, 2011. The union's contract is set to end at the end of the fiscal year, at which time a new deal will be negotiated, Herrmann said.

The concessions were negotiated with union representatives, Herrmann said. If the concessions weren't approved, layoffs would've been likely, she said.

Herrmann did not know how much money the concessions will save the village.

In other business Thursday, the village board also approved a labor agreement with the town's telecommunications workers. The terms of the deal were not publicized.

That contract passed by the same 4-3 vote as the other union deal.