Evanston's Deal With Unions Freezes Wages, Increases Time Off

EVANSTON, IL — The City Council finalized four-year contracts Monday with two unions representing nearly 375 city workers. Both collective bargaining agreements include a wage freeze for 2019 and a slight pay increase the following year in exchange for additional paid time off. The city also agreed not to lay off any budgeted employees for the rest of the year.

The agreements with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which covers 354 city employees, and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council for the Evanston Police Sergeants, which represents 20 officers, represent "a fair compromise between the city and the union in light of the current financial situation of the city," according to a memo to aldermen from Assistant City Manager Erika Storlie.

Under the terms of the agreements, wages for sergeants and city employees will stay flat in 2019, rise by 1.5 percent in 2020, 2.5 percent in 2021 and 3 percent in 2022.

As a compromise for wage increases below the rate of inflation, city employees covered by AFSCME will receive additional floating holidays — three each in 2019 and 2020, two in 2021 and one in 2022. In 2019, sergeants will receive 16 hours of compensatory time, and will earn an additional 0.25 hours of comp time for every day worked for the first three years of the contract.

Evanston's 2019 budget anticipated a potential savings of $1 million by keeping wages flat for its public employees, helping to close a budget deficit. Storlie said the unions' agreement to a one-year wage freeze and low pay hike in 2020 "will give the city the ability to significantly reduce and anticipate salary expenses to improve its financial situation."

Educational stipends for sergeants would increase from $1,900 to $2,000 for those with a bachelor's degree. Those with a "relevant" master's degree will receive $2,500 stipends. For AFSCME workers, on-call weekend stipends were increased from $185 to $215 a week, while annual show allowances increased from $155 to $180.

Starting in 2021, employee contributions to insurance premiums would increase from 10 percent to 12 percent for the HMO and from 10 to 15 percent for the PPO plans. Additionally, AFSCME agreed to change its rules for paying out accumulated sick days. Previously, staff received 85 percent of unused sick time after 5 years of employment. Under the new contract, employees would need 10 years of service to be eligible payouts of up to 40 sick days at 75 percent.

The city agreed to no furlough days for AFSCME employees for the duration of the contract and anyone who gets laid off after 2019 will receive an additional two weeks of severance.

Both contracts would be effective from Jan. 1, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2022. The previous contract with sergeants was valid for one year and the last AFSCME contract lasted for two years. Prior contracts had been three years.

"The lengthy term provides the city with the ability to properly and reasonably budget for salaries and expenses associated with these employees," according to Storlie.

Negotiations are ongoing with the Evanston Local Firefighters 742, representing 100 employees, and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Evanston Local 742, representing 160 officers, dispatchers and service desk officers.