A union of Aurora city employees picketed outside City Hall on Tuesday evening, just before a meeting of the Aurora City Council, to demand a “fair contract.”
Union members marched in a circle just beside the building’s main entrance, holding signs saying “Fair Contract Now” and chanting things like “Union power” and “Aurora is a union town.” Just before the City Council meeting began, they came inside to sit in the audience and display their signs.
Local 3298 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — made up of roughly 180 Aurora city employees across various departments — had its contract expire at the end of 2024 and has been been in contract negotiations with the city since January 2025. The local isn’t asking for anything not already included in other unions’ contracts, according to Union President and Fire Inspector Jim French.
“We feel we are just as important to you as any other entity is,” he told the City Council during the meeting’s public comment period. “We do not want to be treated as less. We’ve been offered less, and my members are not going to stand for that.”
In a statement, city officials said they have engaged in good-faith negotiations with the local and remain committed to reaching a mutually-beneficial contract. Last year’s budget shortfalls made the negotiation process challenging, officials said.
“Regardless of the outcome, 3298 will continue to receive a highly competitive compensation package,” the city’s statement said.
Specifically, the union is asking for a 4% pay increase each year for four years, French told The Beacon-News during the picket. Plus, they are looking to clean up some of the language in the contract to minimize labor disputes, he said.
In a news release, local Vice President Jennifer Olman said it is “disturbing” that her unit, which is made up of 75% women, has to fight for the same pay the city already gave other groups of employees made up of mostly men, Olmen said. And as frontline employees, Local 3298 represents the face of Aurora city government, she said.
During his speech to City Council, French said that Local 3298 has members with a wide variety of roles, including telecommunications at the 911 call center, records at the police department, finance, customer service, building inspections, animal control and more.
“They are all critical services to you,” he told the City Council. “We don’t want to see any of that change. We are looking to make everybody’s life better.”
Negotiations are right at the finish line, but at a standstill, according to French. He said the union just isn’t getting the response it would like from city staff.
Last year, Aurora added a new position to its law department to deal specifically with labor and employment matters, efforts that the city previously contracted out to a third party.