Aurora gets concessions from two unions, but cops balk

Aurora has reached tentative agreements for contract concessions with Aurora Firefighters Local 99 and city electricians and supervisors.

But officials said they continue to spar with bargaining units representing both officers and some managers in the police department.

In the deals announced Wednesday, the 168 union firefighters agreed to give back a total of 91 hours of pay, or 3.5 hours per pay period, in 2010. The eight electricians and supervisors agreed to take four unpaid furlough days during the year.

"The latest concessions are another illustration that our dedicated work force realizes the financial difficulties that are a reality for everyone," Mayor Tom Weisner said in a prepared statement. "I'm proud of the fact that many of our bargaining units see that we are all in this together and they are willing to do their parts."

Fire union officials could not be reached for comment.

These are not the first concessions in Aurora as the city struggles to overcome revenue shortfalls. Late last year, AFSCME locals 1514 and 3298, along with the Aurora Fire Officers Association, agreed to concessions that helped the city trim nearly $7.2 million in personnel costs for 2010.

Concessions reached with the various bargaining units account for about $2.2 million of that total. The remaining $5 million was a result of the voluntary and involuntary layoffs that took place in 2009.

But while the city has made progress in reducing its 2010 budget, negotiations with both the police and managers' bargaining units broke down after city officials said the rank-and-file rejected a proposal similar to the firefighters'.

The Association of Professional Police Officers represents about 240 Aurora police officers while the department's sergeants and lieutenants have separate representation.

The city filed an unfair labor practice charge against the association with the Illinois Labor Relations Board during the last week of December.

Assistant Chief of Staff Carie Anne Ergo said the police association's bargaining team had unanimously approved the city's proposal but then one or more members of the bargaining team actively campaigned against it with the membership.

She said the city considers that bad-faith bargaining in violation of state labor law.

Ergo said it's believed this is the first complaint of its kind filed by the city in a decade.

Association attorney Craig Mielke and President Dave Hornberg both declined to comment on the city's allegations, claiming both sides agreed not to discuss negotiations publicly.

Ergo said the city felt a responsibility to update the community on the status of negotiations and pointed out that police officers, sergeants and lieutenants are the only groups not to agree to concessions.

"The city is more than willing to reopen that door and continue those negotiations," Ergo said.

To achieve the necessary reductions called for in the 2010 budget from the police groups, city officials have notified APPO, sergeants and lieutenants that they intend to eliminate their early reporting requirements and pay in mid-January. Instead of requiring officers to report early to convey information between shifts, the department will stagger shifts resulting in cost savings without disrupting services.