Arlington Heights firefighters reach new contract

Arlington Heights firefighters will get pay raises averaging 2.5 percent under terms of a new contract agreed to by the village board this week.

The contract with Arlington Heights Firefighters Association Local 3105 calls for raises of 2.5 percent on May 1, 2.5 percent on Jan. 1, 2018, and 2.5 percent on Jan. 1, 2019. The new agreement is for two years and eight months, due to expire at the end of 2019, in order to align with the village's new fiscal year.

As part of the new contract, employees off on workers' compensation leave will now be required to work light duty, in accordance with their doctors' restrictions. And employees hired as of May 1, 2018, will have to become paramedics.