East Dundee unionized public works employees get bonus, raises

After nearly two years of negotiations, East Dundee recently reached a deal with the union representing four of the village’s eight public works employees, giving them raises and a one-time bonus.

As part of the three-year contract, public works employees from Operating Engineers Local 150 are getting a 2 percent raise retroactive to May 1, 2011, a 2.5 percent raise the second year of the contract and a 2.75 percent raise in its final year.

The deal was approved in November, but last week the village approved a “side letter” between the union and East Dundee that gives union employees a one-time 2 percent bonus.

“They’ve been taking pay freezes for three years,” Interim Village Administrator Bob Skurla pointed out, adding that all management and nonunion employees did without raises as well.

This means the public works employee making the lowest union salary of $42,247, will make $43,936.88 the first year of the contract, $45,035.30 the second year and $46,273.77 the final year.

The contract’s total financial impact is $84,983, according to a memo to the village board from Skurla.

The village had no new demands on the public works employees in this contract, but questioned why union workers began and ended their shifts an hour earlier than everyone else.

“That’s part of a management right,” Skurla said.

Neither Deanna Distasio, the union attorney, nor Greg Goetz, the union president, could be reached for comment Tuesday.

The union will soon add a fifth member after the village hires a full-time person in the water department, Skurla said. That person will probably start at the bottom of the pay scale, making a salary of about $35,000.

Meanwhile, the village is close to inking an agreement with the Metropolitan Alliance of Police Local 453 that represents nine sworn officers.

Its previous contract expired April 30, 2010 and the new one is pending ratification and approval from the village board, Police Chief Terry Mee said.