Slim raises for North Aurora public works staff

The North Aurora village board approved a new contract with its unionized public works employees this week that calls for no raise the first year, and 1 percent raises the next two years, Village President Dale Berman said.

The pact is with the members of Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers. It applies to eight workers, one of whom does not belong to the union. It covers street and water department laborers, foremen and senior water plant operators.

"I think they realize times are tough," Berman said.

Since the last contract was approved in June 2007, home and business construction in the village has come to a virtual standstill, the village lost two auto dealerships and sales tax is down.

Laborers' pay starts at $18.68 an hour and will rise to $19.24 on June 1, 2011. The foremen and water operators start at $23.59 an hour and rise to $24.31 by the third year. Top pay for the most experienced laborers in 2011 will be $26.73 an hour; for foremen and water plant operators, $32.40.

The uniform and boot allowances were bumped up $50 apiece in the new contract. The workers are eligible to be reimbursed up to $350 for uniforms, and $150 for work boots.

The contract contains a no-strike/no-lockout clause, is retroactive to June 1, 2009, and expires May 30, 2012.