Oak Lawn management continues to fight the firefighter’s union (more)

Excerpts from an editorial published on Chicagotribune.com, written by Oak Lawn Village Manager Larry Deejten:

On February 27, the Daily Southtown published a story about Oak Lawn firefighters and a ruling from a state board that ordered the village to pay $3.2 million in back pay with a 7% interest rate, compounded over time. As a concerned citizen and public servant, I feel it's important to clarify this matter for all readers—not just those in Oak Lawn.

The current model of fire-rescue services in Oak Lawn is clearly not working. For over 25 years, staffing protocols have remained unchanged, despite repeated requests from management for modernization. In any other industry, such resistance would have led to bankruptcy long ago. The fire union has consistently resisted necessary reforms, which has put a huge financial burden on taxpayers.

Local residents have had little say in these matters due to legislation passed under former Governor Quinn, which was supported by a general assembly that receives significant campaign contributions from the International and Illinois Firefighter Associations. One fire union alone donated over $450,000 in 2014. Despite warnings from nearly every major town in Illinois and organizations like the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, structural and political barriers continue to block meaningful change.

Fire union representatives often justify their stance by citing "workplace safety," claiming that staffing levels are dictated by the nature of the job and increasing workloads. While we respect the dedication of our firefighters, the current system is unsustainable.

More than 60% of Oak Lawn’s operating budget goes toward public safety, which is a point of pride for our community. However, the union’s resistance has cost the village over $2 million annually in state-mandated overtime, or more than $36,000 per firefighter. This is a serious issue that affects every taxpayer.

Governor Rauner has called for shared sacrifice to restore economic strength and fiscal responsibility. Budgets must be balanced, and pensions should reflect what taxpayers can afford. This requires cooperation from all parties, including local leaders who need the tools to manage their communities effectively.

Other nearby communities use alternative models for fire-rescue services that are both effective and cost-efficient. Just like any business, Oak Lawn needs to adopt best practices to remain competitive and sustainable in today’s environment.

Here are some key points to consider:

• Oak Lawn is not “0 for 7” in lawsuits filed by the International Firefighters Union Local 3405. We respect the law and believe in appealing decisions that don’t serve the public interest. Each case is evaluated on its own merits, and judges, arbitrators, and officials change over time. In this particular case, a state employee made a serious error by ordering the village to pay firefighters—whose average salary is $89,000—$3.2 million in back pay for work they never performed and without any improvement in public safety.

• Over 70% of Oak Lawn firefighters do not live or pay property taxes in the village. The union leader featured in the Southtown article lives in Glen Ellyn, where the median household income is $87,904—more than double that of Oak Lawn. This raises questions about fairness and the ability to support fire services in the community.

• Why not stop fighting these rulings and simply hire more firefighters to staff all 22 positions around the clock? The village has wisely avoided spending more than $3.6 million since 2008 and continues to avoid unnecessary costs by not filling vacant positions. For each firefighter, the village pays an average of $120,000 in wages and benefits, plus a pension worth up to $1 million. If this ruling stands, the annual cost will exceed $600,000 and grow over time. In five years, that could add another $3 million in costs for taxpayers.

• Is public safety at risk when fewer firefighters are deployed? Absolutely not. On a typical day, our utilization rate is low, and our mutual aid system handles emergency situations safely. Our firefighters and paramedics do an excellent job, and Fire Chief George Sheets is a respected professional who would never compromise safety.

• Oak Lawn is part of MABAS, one of the top two fire mutual aid systems in the country. We collaborate with 11 other communities to provide additional resources during large-scale emergencies. This system allows us to bring in over 100 firefighters when needed.

In conclusion, while the recent ruling is a setback, we have the right—and duty—to appeal it. It’s hard to understand why a village of Oak Lawn’s size would be forced to pay $3.2 million in back pay plus interest for work never done. This amount represents 21% of the village’s property tax levy, and we have no funds to cover it.

As a fair employer, Oak Lawn has a much lower workforce turnover rate than the national average. We are appealing this decision because we believe it is unfair and incorrect. We hope our employees will understand and support this effort.

For more information and the full statement from the village, visit http://www.oaklawn-il.gov/home/showdocument/id=4788, where you can find detailed wage information for all village employees in 2014.

Thanks, Dan

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