Hoffman Estates police union to discuss layoffs proposal

Members of the Hoffman Estates police union will gather Tuesday to discuss the village's proposal to lay off four police officers.

Time is running out, as the village has asked the union to make concessions or face the cuts. The village is scheduled to approve its 2010 budget on Dec. 7 and needs to address the issue of layoffs before then. No village meeting is scheduled for Monday as it's the fifth Monday of the month.

Union President Flo Williams said Friday members will have a chance to air their opinions at the meeting. She last spoke with village officials on Tuesday. She said the union will also discuss whether to hold a no-confidence vote for Police Chief Clinton Herdegen, as some members are unhappy with the bargaining process.

Williams pointed out the chief is asking the village board for $138,000 to spend on an automated electronic traffic ticket-writing system for the department's squad cars.

"That's a job," she said. "I'd rather see an officer's job saved than stop writing tickets."

Herdegen couldn't be reached for comment Friday.

The village approached officials from the fire, police and public works unions in the summer and first threatened the cuts, wanting each department to help cover a projected $1.8 million budget deficit. Those proposed layoffs were confirmed last week when the village unveiled its 2010 budget, which included four police department and six fire department layoffs.

The police union's 78 members and the village agreed on a five-year contract last year. However, the village wanted to reopen negotiations, citing the sagging economy. Village officials said in July they trimmed $8 million in expenses from the budget over the prior 18 months. Village department heads also won't see salary raises this year, which the village has used in bargaining, saying they've set an example for the village for more frugal spending.

Williams said the union's proposed compromise hasn't changed much since first submitted.

"No matter what we offered it up, it's not enough," Williams said.

The fire department union contract expired last year, and members have been working under the terms of the old pact. The public works union, whose contract expires later this year, came to an agreement earlier last week avoiding any layoffs. The village ceremoniously issued a news release touting the accomplishment.

"I saw the news release; it doesn't really change anything for us," Williams said. "It's amazing though, how happy they are with public works."

While cutting four police officers doesn't seem especially crippling, Williams said the village already reduced the department by four officers by electing to leave posts unfilled. A loss of eight officers means officers already restricted in taking time off will experience additional difficulties, she said.