Village, Union Reach Agreement After 3-Years of Negotiations

Oak Park officials on Monday approved an agreement between the village and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73, ending three years of negotiations. 

The agreement, effective Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2014, represents about 70 full-time employees and five part-time employees of multiple village departments with annual salaries ranging from $30,000 to $73,000. It provides a 1.5 percent general wage increase and a 1.25 percent merit incentive payment each year of the agreement. 

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According to a Wednesday Journal report, multiple failed negotiations since the fall of 2010 led to a strike in July 2012, leading to a two-day protest outside village hall.

The village also approved an agreement with SEIU on Monday that represents nine employees in the village's Water and Sewer division of the Public Works Department. The agreement, effective Nov. 5, 2012 until June 30, 2015, , and has been the subject of an Unfair Labor Practice filed by the village in 2012, according to a village staff memo.

The contract provides a 1 percent general wage increase and a 1.5 percent merit incentive payment each contract term. The hourly rate of pay for the positions ranges from $22.80 to $32.69, and all employees are covered by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). 

Village President Anan Abu-Taleb congratulated the board, staff and the union for reaching an agreement on Monday, and stressed the importance of staff's role in serving the Oak Park's customers: The taxpayers.

"We want to have a positive work environment for our staff, and we want you to feel valued," he said. "But, we also want to provide our customers with a positive experience every time. Our customers are the taxpayers and God knows they pay a lot to live and do business in Oak Park. You (staff) are the front line and the face of our village. You are the one that interacts with our customers, (and) through this interaction, you can make a difference in the experience we want to provide.

"Say hello when you see a customer approaching you... (and) When you can't help them, find someone who can... Help us change the perception we are a difficult town to invest in, and by doing so, you help yourself to keep your job," he said. 

He continued, "I am delighted that these three-year long negotiations are behind us. Let us focus on building a better relationship between the union and the village. Let us focus on serving our community, and let us focus on making Oak Park a better place."