The union representing Oak Brook firefighters and the Village Board have reached agreement on a new four-year contract that runs through Dec. 31, 2026.
The contract, which is retroactive to Jan. 1, covers 27 firefighter/paramedics, who operate in three separate 24-hour shifts, Village Manager Greg Summers said.
He said the new contract calls for salaries for firefighter/paramedics to be adjusted by 3.5% annually throughout its term, while also maintaining the village’s management rights to appropriately staff the department.
“The contract compares favorably with other collective bargaining contracts settled recently,” Summers said. He said another stipulation in the new contract changes the way overtime pay is calculated, adjusting from a prior 28-day cycle to the village’s standard 14-day cycle.
“Doing so eliminates multiple manual processes and allows for software automation, thereby reducing several hours of administrative burden per pay period,” Summers said.
Dave Kornfeind, president of Associated Firefighters of Oak Brook-Local 4646, said the new contract encompasses various important aspects, including competitive wages, benefits, and improved working conditions for its membership.
“The agreement reached between the parties was a result of constructive and collaborative discussions,” he said. “This agreement also further underscores the commitment of both the Union and the village to provide a positive work environment, along with a continued effort to ensure the best possible service to the residents of Oak Brook.”
Both Summers and Village President Larry Herman said they were pleased with the manner in which negotiations progressed and the outcome.
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“The labor agreement reached is largely attributable to improved relationships and trust rebuilding as the village and our fire staff work more collaboratively to improve efficiency, response times, and outcomes,” Summers said. “While there will always be differences between the Village Board and unionized staff, this contract reflects the balance of each side’s needs, without added burden on village finances.”
Herman said the union contract negotiations with the fire department were more amicable and smoother than they have been in the past.
“Thanks (go) in part to our vigilant negotiations team led by Villager Manager Greg Summers, Assistant Village Manager Joe Mitchell, Fire Chief Kevin Fleege, and labor attorney Ben Gehrt, of Clark Baird Smith,” Herman said. “However, negotiations are a two-way process, and finding common ground would not have been possible without the rebuilt relationship between the village and our fire staff.”
Herman said last year’s internal promotion of Fleege to Chief began a new era in the relationship between village officials and the fire department
“That has gone a long way to re-instilling trust between labor and management,” he said.
Negotiations began in May 2023 with Firefighters Local #4646. The firefighters union voted unanimously Jan. 8 to ratify the agreement. The Village Board approved the new deal Tuesday Jan. 23.
Michael Manzo, the Village Board’s longest serving current member said he has never seen a more well run and proactive negotiation between the board and fire union representatives in his 13 years as a trustee.
“I am very happy with the outcome of the process and even more pleased that President Herman and this Village Board have worked collaboratively to put the village’s financial house in order, so we can offer fair contracts to our village employees,” he said. “This negotiation with fire union has been the most amicable in recent memory.”
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.