The Daily Herald has an article about the approval of new contracts for the firefighters and police officers in Arlington Heights.

Arlington Heights approved new three-year contracts with its fire and police unions on Monday night that include salary raises but also higher contributions from employees to their insurance premiums.

Members of both the Metropolitan Alliance of Police, Arlington Heights Police Chapter No. 510, and the Arlington Heights Firefighters Association, Local No. 3105, had already ratified the new contracts before the village board voted to unanimously approve them at its Monday meeting. The previous contracts expired at the end of April.

Police union officials reached the agreement after three bargaining sessions, while for the firefighter union it took six. Both new contracts expire on April 30, 2017, and were reached through the interest-based bargaining process, officials said.

Member of both unions will receive 2.5 percent salary increases on May 1, 2014, 2015 and 2016, according to the contract. Police officers will also receive additional holiday pay for one more holiday this year, bringing the total to seven.

Beginning May 1, 2015, members of both unions will pay 12 percent of their insurance premium contribution, an increase from the 10 percent they currently pay, according to the contract details. Police officers will also receive an increase in their equipment allowance from $200 to $300, while firefighters will receive an increase in their uniform allowance from $150 to $300.

Thanks Dan