Carpentersville officials are hitting back at claims made by the firefighters union that the layoffs of two full-time firefighters by the village is "illegal."
Members of the Carpentersville International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4790 had just begun contract negotiations on March 23 with village officials when they were notified of the layoffs, that took effect April 22, said Union president Lt. Rick Nieves in a press release.
The union immediately filed a grievance, contending the layoffs were illegal under the terms of the current contract with the village, Nieves said. Both village and union officials met April 7 but were unable to come to a resolution.
Union members are now asking an arbitrator to step in and restore the firefighters' jobs, with back pay, "as well as any other costs incurred due to the village's illegal actions," Nieves said.