Bolingbrook Firefighters Union Donate Money to First Party Member, Bill Mayer's Campaign
Will the donations to Mayer's campaign protect the BBFU from any future layoffs?
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November 17, 2011
By James Kadlec
Volunteer Reporter, Waste Tracker
On June 14, 2011, the DuPage Township Board donated $1,000 to the Bolingbrook Firefighters for its 11th Annual Scholarship Fundraiser Golf Outing.
Then, on August 31, according to the Illinois Board of Elections, the Firefighters contributed $250 to Bill Mayer, DuPage Township's Superintendent, for his political war chest.
Also during August, according to the Illinois Board of Elections, DuPage Township's attorneys (Tresser, Soderstrom, Maloney & Priess) and public accountants (Wolf & Company) each donated $500 to Mayer.
Is it possible that Mayer might use the Fire Fighters' “scholarship” funds to go back to school? And if he is continuing his education, what courses should he take? The next time you see Mayer, encourage him to enroll in Political Ethics 101.
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Village of Bolingbrook Approves
3 Year Contract with Firefighters Union
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October 1, 2010
By Matt Olson
The final contract proposals that were ratified by the members of local 3005 by a vote of 58 yes and 16 no were also ratified by the village board on Tuesday.
Wage increase: 2009-2010= 0% 2010-2011= 2% 2011-2012=2%
The Village agreed to provide 3 additional buyouts. This will create the openings needed and return 3 laid off firefighters to work.
The agreement includes a 10% increase in premiums paid by the firefighters for health insurance from Blue Cross Blue Shields current rate and a larger contribution from the firefighters for prescription drug purchases.
We are satisfied that we have a fair agreement. The focus of our membership was always to return our laid off workers back to work. We were able to settle an agreement with the Village to do exactly that. The wages increases we believe are fair when we consider the current state of the economy.
We will continue to work with the Village cooperatively in an effort to provide the service that Bolingbrook residents deserve.
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HOT TIP!
Attention Members of
Bolingbrook Firefighters Assoc.
Local 3005
DON'T CAVE IN TO VILLAGE DEMANDS.
VOTE NO! TO THE NEW CONTRACT.
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HOT TIP
In the midst of a contract dispute with the Village, Bolingbrook Firefighters Union President, Matt Olson has caved in to the Village unreasonable demands, and is now asking members of the union to approve a contract that will leave them in a worst off position.
The Number Crunchers are on the case. We have left a message with union president Matt Olson.
In addition, we spoke with John Ward, president of Bolingbrook's police union. Ward explains, he's "not in a position to confirm either way because this is an issue between the firefighters union and the Village."
The police union has not come to any formal agreements with the Village, and is set for arbitration.
The public works union does not have a signed contract with the Village either.
Matt Olson confirms the tentative agreement with the Village, and is disappointed with the way he's being portrayed in the story. According to Olson, he's more concerned about getting his 3 men back to work, than getting a raise.
The contract must be ratified by union members. They will be meeting within the next few weeks to vote on the new contract. From what we hear, there's a few members upset about the contract.
We will keep you posted on the results.
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Matt Olson, President of the Bolingbrook Firefighters Union
"SAY YES! To the New Contract"
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The Bolingbrook firefighters have reached an agreement in principle with the village. Our agreement includes both pay raises for the membership as well as a return to work for the 3 members affected by the layoffs.
The fundamental goal of the firefighters during this negotiations was to not lose any of our members to layoffs. The layoffs became a reality and our goal became to return these 3, including fathers and husbands back to work. They deserve it, and the residents of Bolingbrook also deserve to have them here.
Is it possible that we could have received 2 % more in raises for the year 2009-2010 through arbitration? Sure. I realize that almost anyone would be interested in receiving an extra 2% raise. The Bolingbrook firefighters negotiating team is not interested in receiving an extra 2% raise. The reason is simple. If we as firefighters force the village into arbitration and are awarded an extra 2%, we have gained a little and lost a lot. We have just guaranteed that 3 members will not be able to return to work.
I know that many people believe that the Mayor and Board should return them to work regardless, that's fine. What people feel ought to happen and what actually happens are not always the same thing. The decision was made to take the jobs from 3 members. My job is to shape a way for them to return to work. Politics aside, I as union president have to deal in realities. Whether or not they should have been laid off, needed to be laid off, the reality is they were laid off. This is an unacceptable position for our union.
The agreement that we will vote on as I said includes the return to work of 3 members, as well as 4% in pay raises. A vote against this proposal is a vote to receive a little more in raises at the expense of 3 of our brothers. A vote in favor of this proposal means we all will accept a little less for the greater good of the 3 families affected directly by the layoffs.
This is the definition of brotherhood and union. We are proud of our work, and satisfied with the resulting return to work of our three men, firefighters, paramedics, father and husband. None of us within the fire department is more valuable than another. We refuse to take additional pay raises at the expense of out of work employees. To accept additional money while people are out of work is fundamentally unfair.
Respectfully,
Matt Olson-President of the Bolingbrook Firefighters Association local-3005
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Bolingbrook Firefighter & Police Union Join Forces For A Great Cause
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Edgar Hughes, Firefighter and Public Relations Chairman for BB FFA Local 3005, organized a fundraiser on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at Bar Louie's, in Bolingbrook.
The fundraiser was the first of two events scheduled to raise money for the 3 firefighters and 2 police officers recently laid off by the Village of Bolingbrook.
According to Hughes, the public safety workers wanted to help out their fellow brothers. "It's very sad to see how much they are struggling. We want to help ease their burden until they get back on their feet"
Tickets for the event cost $20 per person, and included food, soda, a bagpipe performance by police and firefighters, and a raffle.
The next fundraiser will be held next week at Buffallo Wild Wings.
For more information contact Matt Olson, 815-405-3323 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 815-405-3323 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or John Ward, 630-605-7759 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 630-605-7759 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
UPDATE:
Both fundraisers were successful. If you would like to learn more about contributing to the cause, feel free to contact Matt or John.
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Bolingbrook Firefighters Union
Contract dispute with the Village - UPDATE
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By Matt Olson, President
Currently we are pending arbitration (waiting for a date from the arbitrator) regarding the layoffs. We have contract language that states the city may use layoffs in a time of financial distress the argument is whether or not we are in such distress.
It is our position that the city has the funds available to avoid reductions in the emergency service provided to the community. It is the city's position that the city is financially unable to provide the emergency service that the residents have had and as a result had to reduce the advance life support capabilities of the fire department through layoffs and attrition.
We will present our arguments to an arbitrator and it is our hope that the result will be bringing back the service that the residents deserve.
We also have a date in August to meet with the city's negotiating team and an arbitrator in an attempt to resolve the economic portion of our collective bargaining agreement. If we are not successful in completing the contract at that time, we will have a hearing in October for a final decision.
I have sent a letter to the Mayor asking to meet prior to the arbitration dates in an effort to see if there is some issues that can be resolved before arbitration.
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Did you know?
For over a year,
Bolingbrook Police Officers & Firefighters have been protecting our streets without a signed contract with the Village.
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Since April, 2009, the police and firefighters have been protecting our streets without a signed contract with the Village of Bolingbrook.
It's been over a year!!!
The President of the police and firefighters union would like to explain first hand the negotiating process with the Village, and the real struggles their men and women face, on a daily basis.
click below to learn more.
Matt Olson, President Bolingbrook Firefighters Association, Local 3005 John P. Ward, President Bolingbrook Police Assoc. M.A.P.,Chapter 3
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