The Courier-News has an article about Carpentersville saving firefighters from layoffs.
The jobs of two Carpentersville firefighters that were destined for the chopping block have been saved thanks to a compromise between village officials and the union representing the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4790.
Due to the village’s budget deficit of about $400,000, Carpentersville officials said cutting the two full-time firefighters as well as three civilian employees was necessary. Four part-time vacancies in various departments are also being eliminated.
After members of the union learned the fate of the firefighters, they began negotiating with the village to help keep the jobs while still addressing the village’s budget woes.
Village officials said in a press release the negotiations resulted in an agreement that modifies work schedules and identifies “swing shift” employees who will not be assigned to regular duty shifts — a 24-hour shift followed by 48 hours off duty — but will work shifts to fill vacancies created by other employees’ vacations and authorized time off. Officials said the agreement removes the need to pay overtime to firefighters who traditionally filled those vacancies, thus generating an annual overtime savings of $85,000.
Carpentersville Village Manager Mark Rooney said cutting personnel or services to address budget deficits “is always a last resort.” Rooney said if the swing shift schedule works as expected no full-time firefighters will be laid off for the duration of the current collective bargaining agreement, which expires in 2016.
In turn, the union has decided to withdraw a grievance it filed last month, which disputed the village’s decision to lay off two full-time firefighters.
The agreement comes as a relief to Lt. Rick Nieves, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4790. “We used to have 13 firefighters on every day and now we’re down to 10 on certain days,” he said. “So we still have some work to do with the village. But for now we’re here and we’ll deal with it.”
… in 2010 the village had 207 full-time employees. As a result of reorganization, layoffs and not filling open positions, currently there are 175. Personnel and labor costs account for about 70 percent of the village’s overall costs, according to Rooney.
thanks Dan
