Antioch Police Officers Union sign new two year term contract

Antioch village trustees this week approved a two-year contract with the village’s police union giving officers a 4 percent pay increase over the life of the deal.

Officials say the contract, retroactive to May, brings Antioch officers’ pay in alignment with that of their peers in surrounding communities.

“The police salary schedule was developed specifically to bring the police officers in line with market rates throughout the region,” Village Manager Jim Keim said. “The police have seen raises in every contract. Some of the previous contracts had larger increases, but when we get closer to market value it makes sense to bring those increases more in line with what an average salary would be for an officer.”

Negotiations have been taking place since March for the agreement which also includes changes regarding sick leave, health care, uniform and equipment allowance and pay for holidays. Police officers will have to pay slightly more for their health care.

“In the new contract there is the same health care plan as the village has now,” Keim said. “For a single individual for health care it moved from $20 to $25 (every two weeks).”

Police Chief Craig Somerville said he is glad the deal was reached quickly and without acrimony.

“This is evident by the fact that it was agreed upon unanimously by the officers and the board of trustees,” Somerville said. “There was no conflict or controversy during the process. Both sides came together as professionals and worked out a favorable outcome.”