Kane County probation officers and youth home counselors have opted to go on strike Sunday rather than accept a one-year contract proposal that included a 2 percent raise.
The workers, who have long complained they are underpaid compared with their counterparts in neighboring counties, rejected the contract proposal in a 66-24 vote Friday, said Dominic Romanazzi, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 330 in Elgin. He asked Monday for a federal mediator to get involved in the negotiations.
Officials of the 16th Judicial District were developing a contingency plan should the 114 union members who work in Kane, DeKalb and Kendall Counties walk off their jobs when their contract expires Saturday. About 25 managers would take over the union members’ caseloads, said Jim Mueller, district executive director.
The union is seeking a $3,500 across-the-board pay adjustment, noting it currently takes as many as 15 years for its members to move from the minimum pay level of $27,500 a year to the maximum pay level of $40,000.