Excerpts from the DailyNorthwestern.com:
Evanston aldermen approved agreements with the police and firefighter unions at a council meeting Monday, authorizing city manager Wally Bobkiewicz to execute the contracts.
The Fraternal Order of Police Sergeant Union and the International Association of Fire Fighters Union both called for 3 percent wage increases for the next fiscal year. The documents state that the increases are higher than last year to account for changes to health insurance plans that went into effect on Jan. 1.
In both contracts, the city agreed to return vacation time that had been deducted last year in exchange for each union withdrawing complaints they had filed with the Illinois Department of Labor and Illinois Labor Relations Board about that removal.
FOP members were also credited with 24 hours of compensatory time for agreeing to the contract and an increase in the annual education incentive. Employees who possess a bachelor’s degree or higher from a college or university will receive an additional $1,900 stipend.
Sergeants can also participate in a voluntary physical fitness exam administered by the Evanston Police Department and can receive $500 for passing as an incentive to maintain physical fitness.
IAFF members received 30 hours of compensatory time since they agreed to not have a wage increase in 2017. This year, the union will receive a 2.75 percent retroactive increase for last year, and a 3 percent increase for 2018.
According to city documents, the IAFF agreement largely remained the same as last year. Negotiations for the next contracts with both unions will take place in the fall.
