Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:
The firefighters' union in Franklin Park is taking its dispute with the village to arbitration, more than a year after their previous contract expired. The International Association of Firefighters Local 1526, led by President Douglas Halverson, has decided that negotiations have reached an impasse and that arbitration is now the only option left.
"For over 50 years, we've managed to resolve issues without ever needing to go this far," Halverson told the Franklin Park Village Board during a public comment session at Monday’s meeting. "We’ve already spent tens of thousands on talks, and that number could double by the time the arbitration ends."
The arbitration process is set to begin on Wednesday, July 15. But it's not just the contract that's on the table—Halverson also wants to address several unresolved grievances in separate hearings. These include two years without a raise, the closure of a fire station, the requirement for union members to staff an ambulance at a lower wage, and the village's failure to hire enough firefighters to reach full staffing levels.
"When you meet behind closed doors, have you asked why there are so many grievances now?" he questioned the board. "Have you considered why we filed an unfair labor practice complaint? Have you even thought about how we can avoid this situation? This union only took action after every other attempt to find a solution failed."
According to documents obtained by the Franklin Park Herald-Journal, the last agreement between the village and the firefighters’ union ran from May 1, 2012, to April 30, 2014. Talks began well before the contract ended and have continued into this year, but no resolution has been reached.
Halverson explained that the union agreed to certain concessions, like staffing ambulances at a lower rate and doing more with fewer resources, because the village had previously said it was facing a financial deficit. The union believed that once the current contract expired, funding for the department would improve.
"For the first time in my career, we’re running a ladder truck with just two firefighters. That’s not safe," he said.
Franklin Park officials claim they have offered the union a fair deal. In a statement sent via email, the village’s attorney stated, "The village has engaged in good-faith negotiations with the fire department’s union and has made efforts to address many of the concerns raised by union leadership. We believe the compensation package offered is fair and equitable and remain committed to finding a reasonable resolution."
Unlike court cases, arbitration is a private process where both sides select an impartial third party, known as an arbitrator, to oversee the proceedings. Each side presents evidence and testimony during a hearing, and the arbitrator makes a final decision within 30 days. The ruling is binding and cannot be appealed. Under the most recent union contract, the union and the village will share the cost of the arbitrator’s services.
PET sheet,wood texture PET sheet,wood texture,furniture sheet
Dongguan Sunyo Plastic Co., Ltd , https://www.sunyopet.com