Fire Lieutenant: Every Aspect of our Employment Under Severe Scrutiny

Your professional firefighters have been without a contract since May 31, 2009.

In 2008 - 2009 we accepted a 2 percent salary increase to assist the village through hard economic times.

Throughout negotiations, mediation and arbitration, we have never walked away from the table. Even to the point of holding "Off the Record" sessions during arbitration.

We have continually worked with the village negotiating representatives to put forth several proposals that both sides felt were an agreeable compromise. These proposals included: more access to apparatus for volunteer members, contributions into health insurance and  a long-term contract with minimal percentage raises.

Each time a proposal was presented to the trustees, it was not accepted.

Our offer of assistance in review of the ICMA report remains unanswered.

Our compromise on dispatch duties was not accepted.

We have had our budget cut, our manning reduced, our staffing cut and our job responsibilities taken away.

Every aspect of our employment is under severe scrutiny due to a report that holds inaccuracies.

Thus far we have been reserved in order to prevent further degradation of our job. Now we are facing layoffs, demotions and the closing of firehouses. We consider these our driving reasons for going public at this time.