There's a recent article in the Oak Lawn Leaf about the ongoing challenges facing the local fire department. It seems that a proposal to secure funding through a SAFER Grant to cover the salaries of two new firefighters for two to three years has encountered some pushback, even though the village is already short-staffed and will face further shortages due to upcoming retirements. Trustee Robert Streit urged the mayor and fellow trustees to apply for the grant as soon as possible. Currently, the village has 76 firefighters, which will drop to 72 by July 1st. This is significantly lower than the 108 firefighters they had in the past, primarily due to attrition and the lack of replacements.
According to the article, the village has been in a prolonged legal dispute with the firefighters' union over the issue of minimum manning. The Oak Lawn Professional Firefighters Association Local 3405 accused the village of violating labor laws by failing to negotiate on this matter. The Illinois Labor Relations Board ruled in favor of the union, a decision later upheld by the Illinois Appellate Court in 2011. Administrative Law Judge Phillip Kazanjian, who presided over the case, also reviewed the village's layoffs of firefighters. The current village leadership continues to advocate for changes to the minimum manning laws and has pointed fingers at the fire department for increased overtime costs.
The primary aim of a SAFER Grant is to enhance fire department staffing to better handle emergency situations. Streit emphasized this point by highlighting Fire Chief George Sheets' concerns about this year being the deadliest in Oak Lawn's firefighting history. Mayor Deetjen stated that the village is working on an application for the grant, but it would need the cooperation of the union, suggesting that concessions might be necessary. Sources within the fire department reveal that Deetjen remains firm in his stance, insisting that new hires can only happen if the union agrees to modify the minimum manning clause. Recently, firefighters were informed by Chief Sheets that the village won't proceed with the SAFER Grant unless the union complies with Deetjen's demands.
Failure to comply with the existing contract could result in renewed legal action from the firefighters, potentially leading to another unfair labor practice claim. The village has already spent over a million dollars in legal fees fighting the firefighters, and further litigation could exacerbate these costs.
Thanks for sharing this, Dan. It really highlights the complexities involved in maintaining adequate staffing levels while navigating labor disputes.
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