Telecommunicators for Northwest Dispatch threaten strike

Telecommunicators for the Northwest Central Dispatch System, which controls emergency communications for much of northwest Cook County, have indicated that they plan to strike over contract negotiations.

The Metropolitan Alliance of Police, which represents the telecommunicators, issued Northwest Central Dispatch a strike notice Wednesday but will not strike before 5 p.m. Oct. 6.

“Northwest Central is taking precautionary measures to insure that 9-11 dispatch services will continue without interruption,” said Cindy Barbera-Brelle, executive director of Northwest Dispatch, in an statement. “We have various sources from which to draw in order to continue providing emergency services to the communities we serve.”

The cooperative handles police, fire and other emergency communications for 486,182 residents of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg and Streamwood.