Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:
The Village of Skokie and its firefighters union agreed to a new three-year contract calling for annual raises beginning May 1. The agreement between Skokie Firefighters Local 3033 of the International Association of Fire Fighters and the Village of Skokie retains many of the same provisions as the previous contract with some changes in economic benefits.
Under the new contract, which includes a seven-step wage scale, the beginning salary for firefighters at the bottom of the scale is $70,515 and $93,365 for those at the top of scale as of May. That salary range on the scale increases to $72,278 at the bottom of the scale and $95,699 at the top of the scale in May, 2019 and $74,085 at the bottom of the scale and $98,091 at the top of the scale in May, 2020.
The Skokie Village Board approved the contract at its Feb. 20 meeting after the union ratified it the month before.
The wage scale range for lieutenants in May, 2018 is $84,487 at the start and $111,578 at the top of scale; in May, 2019, $86,599 at the start and $114,367 at the top of scale; in November, 2019, $87,032 at the start and $114,939 at the top of scale; and in May, 2020, $89,208 at the start and $117,812 at the top of scale.
The new contract calls for unionized employees to pay the same percent toward their health care costs as non-unionized employees over the life of the contract — with a maximum of 15 percent. Village employees currently pay 12 percent of their health care costs.
Another change in the contract allows firefighters and lieutenants with at least 10 years of employment with Skokie to become eligible for a $1,200 annual certification incentive if they possess and maintain multiple specialized certifications, which are outlined in the agreement.
The contract also provides longevity bonuses ranging from an annual payout of $800 for eight to 14 years of service; $1,100 for 15 to 19 years of service; $1,400 for 20 to 24 years of service; and $2,750 for 25 years or more of service.
Stipends for specialized service are also included in the contract.
The agreement was reached well over two months before the current contract expires.
