Palatine approves firefighters contract

After more than two years of negotiations, Palatine firefighters are finally operating under their first union contract.

The council on Monday unanimously approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement retroactive to Jan. 1, 2008. It calls for raises of 4 percent in 2008, 3 percent in Jan. 2009, 0.5 percent in July 2009, 2 percent in January 2010 and 2 percent in July 2010.

"This process did take an extremely long amount of time," Village Manager Reid Ottesen said. "At the end of it I think we have an equitable contract that really sets the stage for us to try to move forward in the future with some strong labor management relations."

The contract affects nearly 90 sworn firefighters; civilians positions, the fire chief, three battalion chiefs and two deputy chiefs aren't included. They've worked without a pay raise since January 2007 and will get retroactive checks, Fire Chief Bob Falardeau said.

Palatine was one of the largest non-represented fire departments in the state until it elected to join the International Association of Firefighters union at the end of 2007. Ottesen said negotiations took such a long time mostly because it was the first contract and "a lot of practices needed to be memorialized."

Officials said the terms are comparable to area communities. Along with public works, police and all village employees, the firefighters union agreed to suspend its sick buyback program, which allows for up to two days' additional pay for those who don't use sick time. The union also conceded its paramedic stipend.

Financially strapped municipalities all across the suburbs have been looking to its unions for concessions.

For instance, Arlington Heights firefighters offered to give up half their raises to save the village $165,000 in the upcoming fiscal year. The 103 firefighters would have gotten 3.75 percent raises beginning May 1; instead, they'll get about 1.8 percent raises. Mount Prospect firefighters agreed to delay their 3.5 percent wage hike by six months.

Still, Falardeau said he believes it's a fair contract in light of the economic downturn. He said negotiations for next year will likely begin in the fall.