Village Operation Center workers will see raises
In December of 2008, the Village Operation Center (VOC) employees voted to unionize and choose the Fraternal Order of Police as their exclusive bargaining agent. The unit is comprised of all full time operators. Staff has been negotiating a collective bargaining agreement since April of 2009. Staff has successfully negotiated a three-year agreement beginning May 1, 2010-April 30, 2013.
Tuesday council with a 6-1 vote approved a contract for the employees of the Village Operations Center VOC. Commissioner Barnett stated he would vote against accepting the contract in light of the current economic conditions, and was the lone “NO” vote. Commissioner Neustadt briefly voiced his support for the public employee contract. The rest of council had no comment beyond the “YES” vote approving what staff had presented.
Those economic conditions Barnett referred to, and the spotlight put on generous public employee pay and benefits, have been the source of running commentary by several council members including the mayor. DGreport has run several posts about employee costs and how they are busting the budget and breaking the taxpayer’s collective back. There is a general consensus among council members that the business and financing of government, of which roughly 75% of total costs are personnel costs, can’t continue as it has in the past.
The contract calls for 3-8% step increases each year.
All covered employees advance one “STEP” each village fiscal year, which begins May 1st. One employee already at STEP 6 advances to STEP 7 in 2011 and 2012.
Most of the private sector has seen pay freezes and benefit cost increases. While most of the ire at Springfield has been focused on pension, payroll bursts most municipal budgets.
Police and fire union contracts are coming up for renewal next year.
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Just to be clear, kudos to Commissioner Bob Barnett for his stand against this contract. Thank you Bob for being the only council member willing to stand in there for hard pressed taxpayers. All residents appreciate the good work our VOC people do, but raises totaling 9%, 13%, even 15% over the next two years, in this economic environment, are excessive.
I don’t know what Barnett might have in mind as an alternative, but I for one am all ears. For a council that touted no more business as usual, this contract is business as usual. Given the cricket chirping silence of other members of the dias (except Nuey who said he supports the contract) one can only hope Commissioner Barnett will continue to question future contracts, and offer alternatives.
The village presser is here.
Here are some questions:
1. When was the last time VOC workers got a raise? Since they voted to have FOP as their collective bargaining agent, have they received merit raises, when other non-union Village employees received raises?
2. How many employees are we talking about?
3. What do other Vilages pay their employees in similar positions?
4. Are these employees permitted to strike? As much as I don’t like seeing these kids of raises, the last thing we need VOC employees going on strike and needing other employees to cover for them.
some employees have had their job descriptions reduced and they will still receive a raise? the Village is so broke they had to cancel Heritage Fest and cut senior benefits and whatever else they cut but they can give raises? as Mr. Thoman said many many freezes and cuts all over – this is very excessive – what are the Council members thinking?
Just wondering…WHY? why are they getting a raise.
The source(s) of revenues for our Village are under duress, Assessed Values and Retail Sales. Those two main sources of taxation are falling or have fallen. We just can’t keep raising wages without some sort of relevance to revenue and MERIT. Just because they occupy an open position within our community does not mean they deserve more every year. The Private Sector has already adjusted to this issue, they either laid people off, cut pay and benefits, or filed for bankruptcy/shut down.
For some individuals it is center field, for others it is a favorite restaurant, tea room, gift shop, book store, public park, downtown area, train station, exercise area, worship place, etc, for Downers offers these things and even more: but my favorite spot will and currently always be Downers. There is a reason that Downers in my heart will always be the closest thing to heaven on earth. The streets and parks are always clean and mostly safe, so only necessary public workers only get pay raises In good economic cycles? If my Irish mouth/temper and German body don’t don’t get me killed first, I would like to retire in Downers.
I second Mr. Thoman’s kudos to Bob Barnett. I do not agree with these increases either. As someone else said (maybe also Mr. Thoman), these are very difficult economic times. The Village has had to make cuts, including services and jobs, and everywhere individuals are seeing pay DEcreases or no raises. Sorry, but this was not a great decision.
It looks like there are 11 empolyees covered by this contract (looking at page 29)…
There are no other “similar positions” in the Village. VOC dispatches the Police, Fire, and Public Works department, as well as answers emergency (9-1-1) and non-emergency calls from the public.
VOC has a no-strike clause (Article 4, page 8 ) just like the PD and FD (don’t know about PW).
What was the pay scale before the contract? Just because they got a (first time) contract signed, doesn’t mean they got a raise…
Keep in mind that it is very easy to take a stand against something that you know is going to pass anyway. The more difficult challenge is to clearly articulate why the proposal is flawed and then convince fellow elected officials that an alternative course of action is more prudent. Trust me, I don’t like the increases either, but what was the alternative solution? I’d really like to get on board but where is the ship?
WHY are people getting a raise in this economy if anything they should be taking PAY CUTS!!! Good for Bob Barnett voting NO on this.
Dan.. you seem to be the voice of reason in the midst of chaos! I agree.. just because they got a contract doesn’t mean they all got HUGE raises! And if I understand correctly, they haven’t had a raise in 2 years. 911 is a very technical position, not just answering phones… and vital to the services of the Village. I, personally, would think they should be paid on a level equal to Police or Firefighters… isn’t their job JUST as important??? How about the employees of the village making over $100,000/year take a pay cut and let the ones actually saving lives and protecting the citizens get paid at least a living wage!!