In a recent article published in the Oak Lawn Leaf, there's been some pushback against a proposal to secure Safer Grants that could fully finance the salaries of two new firefighters for two to three years. This comes as the Village of Oak Lawn faces a significant challenge: by July 1st, it will have only 72 firefighters left, down from 76 at the start of the year, and eventually down from a peak of 108 due to retirements and no new hires since 2007. Trustee Robert Streit has urged the mayor and fellow trustees to apply for the Safer Grant immediately, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The village has been embroiled in a legal dispute with the firefighters' union over the concept of minimum manning. The Oak Lawn Professional Firefighters Association Local 3405 accused the village of violating labor laws by failing to negotiate on this issue. Although the Illinois Labor Relations Board ruled against the village, and this ruling was upheld by the Illinois Appellate Court in 2011, the current administration continues to push for changes to this policy. They've even attributed service cuts in other areas to excessive overtime costs, which they claim stem from the fire department.
The purpose of the SAFER Grant is to bolster fire department staffing levels to enhance their ability to respond effectively to emergencies. Streit cited alarming statistics, such as Fire Chief George Sheets' revelation that this year marked the deadliest in Oak Lawn's firefighting history. However, Mayor Deetjen expressed concerns about proceeding with the grant application without concessions from the union. Sources within the fire department report that Deetjen insists on hiring additional firefighters only if the union agrees to amend the minimum manning clause. Recently, firefighters learned that the village would not seek the Safer Grant unless these demands are met.
Failure to comply with the existing contract could result in further legal action from the firefighters, potentially leading to another unfair labor practice complaint. This would likely escalate the village's already substantial legal liabilities, which currently exceed $1 million due to previous disputes with the fire department.
*Thanks, Dan.*
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