Kane Co. Probation Officers, Counselors Go On Strike

Kane County probation officers and youth counselors went on strike Monday after rejecting the county's final contract offer last week, according to medial reports. In total, 116 Kane County 16th Judicial Circuit Court employees are striking and workers could be spotted picketing outside the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center, the Kane County Judicial Center and near the large inflatable rat by the Route 38 judicial center entrance.

Workers also picketed in front of probation offices in Aurora and Elgin, according to the Daily Herald. The strike came after the county refused the Teamsters Local 330 union's request to honor a 15-stage step increase schedule that would include a 3.7 percent raise increase over 15 years.

It's the first strike in 10 years in Kane County, Lisa Aust, executive director for the Kane County Court Services, told the Daily Herald. With the strike underway, the county has shifted its limited resources with the hopes of maintaining services for juveniles being detained while they await trial and prioritizing cases, including those of people on probation who may need immediate action, like a drug test.

More via the Daily Herald and Kane County Chronicle

Photo caption: Kane County Judicial Center/Photo credit: GoogleMaps