A group of 10 state lawmakers from DuPage County voiced support for county probation workers and urged county board members to use $1.4 million in recently awarded state funding to increase probation workers’ salaries.
The letter sent this week voices support for members of AFSCME Local 3328, which represents about 120 probation employees and has been negotiating for a new contract since the start of the year. Kathy McNamara, local union president, said issues such as pay and flexible schedules are key sticking points in the negotiations.
In their letter, state lawmakers argued pay shouldn’t be a sticking point given the state funding the county is receiving.
“We urge you, in the interests of public safety, to pass a county budget that uses these additional state funds to provide wages sufficient to stabilize the probation services workforce,” the letter said.
It was signed by Sens. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, Western Springs, and Laura Ellman, Naperville, and Reps. Kathleen Willis, Addison; Deb Conroy, Villa Park; Michelle Mussman, Schaumburg; Stephanie Kifowit, Oswego; Diane Pappas, Itasca; Karina Villa, West Chicago; Anne Stava-Murray, Naperville; and Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn.
All of the legislators are Democrats.
McNamara this week called the ongoing negotiations “extremely disappointing.”
“We are the ones working out there on the front lines, making sure the communities stay safe,” she said, noting that some of the requests from the union, such as flexible schedules, would not have a financial cost for the county.
The county’s last offer was a 2% cost of living increase but included a freeze in step increases, McNamara said. It did not include flexible scheduling, which McNamara noted has been allowed previously so probation workers can with clients without requiring them to leave school or work.
“It allowed us to be sensitive to the schedules of our clients,” she said.
DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin noted the state requires the county to provide probation services but state reimbursement for those services has not been enough to cover the costs in past years and contributes less than 50% of the salary expenses associated with the probation department. The county is left to cover the remaining salary expense, plus benefits and pension, Cronin said.
DuPage County Chief Judge Dan Guerin, who oversees the probation department, in a written statement said he remains hopeful that both sides can come to a fair resolution. However, he criticized the union’s efforts to involve outside parties.
“The union continues to contact outside parties who have no role whatsoever in the negotiation process and provide to them the union contract talking points,” Guerin said in a written statement, adding that while he found such contact “unhelpful,” he was open to receive their statements.
“However, it remains our position that negotiations should take place between the two knowledgeable and informed sides at the negotiation table,” he said.
Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
