Aurora city employees demand a ‘fair contract’ as negotiations continue

Five months after picketing outside city hall and 20 months after beginning contract negotiations with the city, a group of unionized Aurora city employees is again demanding what they call a “fair contract.”

Union members demanded higher wages and other changes to improve quality of life and workplace accommodations at the Aurora City Council meeting on Aug. 11.

Local 3298 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — made up of roughly 180 Aurora city employees across various departments — had its contract expire at the end of 2024 and has been in contract negotiations with the city since January 2025.

The local isn’t asking for anything not already included in other unions’ contracts, according to Union President and Fire Inspector Jim French. He previously said in March that the union is asking for a 4% pay increase each year for four years.

French said that in recent contract negotiations, the city offered a two-year contract, which he opposed because he said it would expire in less than five months.

“Then we’ll all be right back at the table,” he said.

Ariel Root, a union member who has worked as a city employee for 14 years, asked for improved maternity leave conditions at the city council meeting last week. She said the 10 paid days of maternity leave she received in January were not enough, and she had to use paid time off, sick time and an AFLAC plan to help with her mortgage and bills while going unpaid for 10 weeks.

“What should be a time to recover, heal and nurse my baby was a time of stress and anxiety,” Root said.

City officials told The Beacon-News Friday that the city is committed to reaching a “mutually beneficial contract” but that budgetary challenges that have mounted over the last few years have complicated negotiations.

“Regardless of the outcome, 3298 will continue to receive a highly competitive compensation package,” a statement from the city of Aurora said.

The local union’s members include engineers, facility workers, accountants, inspectors, account clerks, customer service representatives and more, according to local Vice President Jennifer Olman, who is also on the contract negotiation team. She previously said her unit is made up of 75% women.

Olman said union members handle emergency calls and resident requests from the myAurora 311 app.

“We are the conduit that allows the residents to feel heard and taken care of,” Olman said. “It is time for us to be heard and taken care of.”

awright@chicagotribune.com