No raises for more Elgin employees

More Elgin employees have agreed to stagnant wages while protecting themselves against layoffs for the rest of 2011 in the latest labor contract approval.

About 80 percent of Elgin public works employees in Service Employees International Union Local 73 voted to forego raises for the second year in a row, approving the proposed contract in mid-April. City Council members added unanimous approval at their meeting Wednesday night.

Management staff in the city also passed up raises this year, in an additional contract approved by the council Wednesday.

Mark McQueen — chairman of the Elgin public works local — said members approved the deal largely because they have faith in the new mayor, Dave Kaptain.

“Protecting members’ jobs in a bad economy was the number one priority,” McQueen said. “It was a little tough to swallow not taking any raise, but we are hopeful that the new mayor and the city manager will get things back on the right track for next year.”

The contract will last only one year, when the question of wages can be revisited.

Elgin police and fire union members passed up raises this year as well.

“They recognized the difficult financial times the city is in and they’ve all stepped up and we appreciate their efforts,” Kaptain said.

Kaptain will continue to forego his salary until the city can afford to give pay increases to employees.

The city’s clerical workers, also represented by SEIU, are still negotiating their own contract, and the result of those negotiations will likely be put to a vote by the council in coming months.