Kane court security personnel fighting for pay raise

Court security workers in Kane County, who have been working without a contract since December 2008, are one step closer to possible raises.

A Kane County judge recently sided with the Policemen’s Benevolent Labor Committee and said the union can take its case to the Illinois Labor Relations Board for interest arbitration.

The committee sued Kane County and the sheriff’s department over the issue in June 2010. According to the suit, the workers were offered no raises, but a $500 stipend. The union argues there is money in a surplus fund that could pay for raises.

Union lawyers argued that the court security workers, who carry guns, transport defendants and take people into custody, have a no-strike clause in their contract and therefore must receive alternative remedies to settle labor disputes, such as arbitration. This practice is applicable to fire and police unions.

County attorneys argued that the court security employees were not “essential services” employees and had a right to strike.

Judge Thomas Mueller moved the matter to the ILRB, which helps set up an interest arbitration hearing.

“Court security officers are the only ones present in the courtrooms with the inmates; there are no corrections officers in the courts,” read part of Mueller’s ruling.

“It is obvious to anyone familiar with our court system that since deputies are not present, are not assigned courtrooms, the court security officers, by default, assume the role of providing all security and control in the courtrooms.”

John Brosnan, executive director of the ILRB, said there is no timeline for the two sides to meet in interest arbitration, in which both sides state their cases through witnesses and exhibits to an arbitrator.

The arbitrator then makes a ruling, which often resolves the issue, although a governmental body may reject the ruling but it risks paying for more arbitration and legal fees from the other side.

“What they want them to do is bargain upfront. If they go to an impasse, then there’s interest arbitration,” Brosnan said. “Interest arbitration is very common.”

The ILRB handled more than 390 arbitration cases in 2010, according to its annual report.

Stop on by: The Kane County Juvenile Drug Court Advisory Committee will hold its annual fundraiser at the St. Charles Scarecrow Festival Thursday through Sunday. Raffle prizes this year will include local sports memorabilia, Swarovski silver necklace and matching earrings, and an overnight stay at the Herrington Hotel in Geneva. Advisory Committee members will also be selling Kernel Fabyan#146;s popcorn, homemade cookies and cappuccino caramel in a booth behind the police department at 211 Riverside Ave.hhitzeman@dailyherald.com