Prospect Heights workers agree to furloughs, wage freezes in union deal

A dozen Prospect Heights employees will accept furlough days and a wage freeze in return for a promise of no layoffs under a deal expected to win city council approval later this month.

The union members who work in city hall, public works and in a civilian job in the police department will take 30 furlough days a year and drop their unfair labor practices complaint against the city as part of the agreement.

The workers, members of Local 150 of the Midwest Operating Engineers, already have approved the “side letter” to their contract that lays out the terms. The council is expected approve it at their March 14 meeting, Mayor Dolly Vole said.

The side letter also extends Local 150's contract by one year to May 2013, Vole added.

The agreement is in marked contrast to the city's failure to reach an accord with the unions representing its police officers. The city laid off six officers last fall after an arbitrator ruled the city's furloughs were unilaterally imposed and violated union contracts.

Local 150 agreed to drop its unfair labor practices complaint — which also claimed the city unilaterally imposed furloughs without union approval — despite a hearing on the matter scheduled in just a few weeks.

“It would seem not in our best interest to go to a hearing to win $250,000 but lose jobs,” said Ken Edwards, an attorney with Local 150. “That would be a Pyrrhic victory. We've always had a good relationship with Prospect Heights, and you can't get water out of a stone. The city doesn't have the money.”

Vole agreed.

“Local 150 understands the city's financial situation and is for preserving jobs, to have everybody keep their jobs and benefits, including health insurance, especially in this day and age,” she said.