First union contract for Lake County court employees

About 175 probation officers, support staff and other employees in Lake County's 19th Judicial Circuit Court received raises following their first union contract.

The union was formed with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees in late 2021 and they are now represented by Local 3182.

Employees received an immediate 5.7% raise when the 3-year pact was ratified in early November. On Dec. 1, they received a 2.6% cost-of-living increase and merit increases ranging from 0.75% to 1.5%.

The agreement calls for cost of living and merit increases on Dec. 1 each of the next two years. It also improves promotional, on-call and overtime pay, strengthens health and safety provisions, and establishes a process to resolve issues with management, according to union officials.