Barrington public works staff get 2 percent raises

Barrington trustees this week approved a four-year contract with the village’s public works employees, which retroactively took effect on May 1.

The 14 public works employees, who are members of the Teamsters Local 700 union, will receive annual 2 percent raises during all four years of the contract, Barrington Village Manager Jeff Lawler said.

The contract also gives the workers a bit more money to help them pay for their own safety boots.

The new contract provides stronger and more consistent salary increases than the last one, but is still conservative by pre-recession standards, Lawler said.

“We think it’s a good agreement that’s fiscally sound,” he added.

With that contract settled, the village is about to begin negotiations on a new contract with its police officers union.

The last police contract also ended April 30, but employees are continuing to work under the conditions of that contract until the next deal is negotiated this summer, Lawler said.