Arlington Heights firefighters agree to concessions

Arlington Heights firefighters have agreed to give up half their raises to save the village $165,000 in the coming fiscal year.

The deal is on the village board agenda for approval Monday, March 1.

Under the contract with Local 3105, the 103 firefighters in the department would have gotten 3.75 percent raises in the fiscal year beginning May 1, said Robin Ward, assistant village attorney. Now they will get only about 1.8 percent raises.

The village has been working on trimming the budget, which at one point had an expected deficit of more than $8 million. Some jobs already have been eliminated.

A proposed budget will be available for the public Monday and will be discussed publicly at board meetings later in the month.

Mayor Arlene Mulder called the concession noteworthy and said it could save two or three village jobs, although more layoffs might be needed.

"I am extremely pleased that they have agreed to assist the village in our budgetary concerns," she said. "They are showing respect for all the other employees who last year were impacted."

Fire union President William F. Kidd could not be reached for comment.

The village by May 1 will have eliminated about 35 jobs in 18 months through retirements, attrition and layoffs, village officials have said, and the pay of department heads was frozen in the current budget year.

Firefighters and police officers are the only unionized employees in the village.