Schaumburg, police union reach 3-year deal after year's delay, avoiding arbitration

Schaumburg and its police officers union have reached agreement on a three-year contract retroactive to May 2022, just before the protracted negotiations were scheduled to go to arbitration.

The approved contract grants salary increases of 3.25% on May 1, 2022, and 3.5% on May 1, 2023 and 2024.

The estimated cost of the increases to the village is $1.8 million.

Though the contract is filled with new and existing police-specific matters, wages were the major sticking point over the past year, Schaumburg's interim human resources director, Jean Bueche, said.

But both sides kept the lines of communication open and their attorneys were able to reach an agreement this month, independent of a federal mediator and before arbitration was to begin on June 9, she added.

While a mediator provides nonbinding assistance in negotiations, an arbitrator has the authority to issue terms both parties must abide by, Bueche explained.

The rocky negotiation process is a contrast to the three-year contract the village's firefighters union negotiated this spring in just two meetings. Their wage increases are 3.5% on May 1, 2023, 2024 and 2025, at an estimated cost to the village of $1.2 million.

Among the other provisions of the police contract are an increase of stipends to $2,500 for specialty positions such as the detective task force, school resource officers, evidence technicians and field training officers. That's expected to cost the village $24,000.

A new provision in the contract declares that any officer who is drug- and alcohol-tested pursuant to an officer-involved shooting cannot also be made to provide a blood sample without his or her consent or a warrant.

Representatives of the local Metropolitan Alliance of Police union chapter did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Chapter 195 in Schaumburg represents 91 sworn officers below the rank of sergeant.