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

On February 27, the Daily Southtown published a story about Oak Lawn firefighters and a state board ruling that ordered back pay of $3.2 million with a 7% interest rate compounded. As a community leader, I believe it's essential for all readers—especially those in Oak Lawn—to understand the full context of this situation.

Unfortunately, the way fire-rescue services are currently delivered in Oak Lawn is not working. The fire union officials quoted in the article have consistently resisted necessary changes to a system that has remained unchanged for over 25 years. In any other industry, such resistance would likely have led to bankruptcy long ago.

Local taxpayers have had little say in these matters due to legislation passed under former Governor Quinn, which received significant campaign support from the International and Illinois Firefighter Associations. One fire union alone donated over $450,000 in 2014. Despite repeated calls from nearly every major Illinois town, the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, and the Illinois Municipal League, structural and political barriers continue to block meaningful reform.

The fire union often argues that staffing decisions are based on "workplace safety," "teamwork," and "increasing workload." While these are valid concerns, they must be balanced with fiscal responsibility and public accountability.

Our village takes great pride in supporting its police and firefighters. Over 60% of the village’s main operating budget goes toward public safety. However, the fire union’s resistance to change is costing Oak Lawn more than $2 million annually in state-mandated overtime, or about $36,000 per firefighter.

Gov. Rauner has urged shared sacrifice to restore economic strength and financial stability to the state. Budgets need to be balanced, and pension obligations should reflect what taxpayers can realistically afford. Achieving this will require cooperation from all sides, and local leaders must have the tools to manage their operations effectively.

Other communities around Oak Lawn have successfully implemented alternative models for fire-rescue services that are more cost-effective. Just like any business aiming to stay competitive, we must adopt best practices and modernize our approach.

Some key points to consider:

• Oak Lawn is not “0 for 7” in lawsuits against the International Firefighters Union Local 3405. We respect the law, but we also believe in appealing decisions when they clearly go against the public interest. Political leadership and judicial interpretations change over time, and each case is evaluated on its own merits. In the recent back pay decision, 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 that was never performed and with no improvement to public safety.

• More than 70% of Oak Lawn firefighters do not live or pay property taxes in the village. The union representative featured in the Southtown article lives in Glen Ellyn, where the median household income is $87,904—more than double that of Oak Lawn’s $54,828. This raises questions about who is truly bearing the burden of fire-rescue costs.

• Why not stop appealing rulings in favor of firefighters and simply hire more personnel to staff fire stations with 22 positions around the clock? The village has wisely avoided spending more than $3.6 million since 2008 and continues to prevent unnecessary overtime costs. For each firefighter, the village pays an average of over $120,000 in wages and benefits, plus a pension that could total over $1 million. If the ruling stands, the recurring cost will exceed $600,000 annually, adding up to another $3 million in five years.

• Does reducing the number of firefighters compromise safety? Absolutely not. On typical days, the utilization rate is low, and our fire mutual aid system handles non-routine situations effectively. Our firefighters and paramedics do an excellent job, and Fire Chief George Sheets—a respected professional—would never risk the safety of residents or staff.

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

In summary, while the recent ruling is a setback, we have the right—and responsibility—to appeal it. It’s hard to see why a village of Oak Lawn’s size would be forced to pay 74 firefighters $3.2 million in back pay plus interest for work that was never done. That amount represents 21% of the village’s current property tax levy, and we don’t have the funds to cover it.

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