Channahon, employees agree on 3-year contract
By Jeanne Millsap For The Herald-News October 10, 2012 11:58AM
Updated: November 15, 2012 6:21AM
CHANNAHON — Employees of the village of Channahon who are union took a pay freeze last year, but have just negotiated a new three-year contract that will give them raises of 3 percent the first year and 2 percent each of the latter two years.
Employee contributions to health insurance are also increased in the contracts, going up by $50 a month for single coverage and $100 a month for families. Police sergeants also created a holiday pool where they can “bank” their holiday time until the end of the year if they wish.
Twenty-three employees in the village are members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, Public Employees Division. The contracts approved by the village board earlier this month are for three divisions of the union members, which are police sergeants (four), public works employees (13), and those in administration (six).
According to finance manager Bob Guess, the contracts have already been ratified by the membership and approved by the village board, but the deal is not official until Village President Joe Cook signs, and he will wait until attorneys for both the village and the union have given the documents one final review.
Trustees Judie Nash and Debbie Militello voted against board approval of the contract, explaining that they would like to see the final draft and the exact language of the contract before agreeing to it.
The contracts will be retroactive to May 1, 2012. According to Guess, the matters holding up negotiations were back pay issues and payroll processing.
Village Administrator Joe Pena said terms have also been agreed upon for a contract with police officers, but he has not yet received confirmation of the deal from the union.
