Eleven months retroactively, Hoffman Estates village board members Monday approved a three-year contract with the firefighters union granting annual salary increases for firefighter-paramedics of 2.5%, 2.25% and 2.25%, respectively, through Dec. 31, 2023.
The contract also includes additional equity adjustments in the pay of lieutenants and captains -- 0.75% in 2021 and 1% in both 2022 and 2023. The vote was 6-0 with Trustee Karen Mills absent.
Hoffman Estates Village Manager Eric Palm said he didn't recognize any specific reasons for the length of the negotiations, least of all the absence of a permanent village manager and fire chief on Jan. 1, when the new contract was intended to take effect and ultimately has.
"Some things just take a little longer," Palm said. "I was very impressed with the leadership of the union and the good spirit of negotiations."