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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Alisia Lewis, Chief Human Resources Officer
DATE: March 3, 2022
SUBJECT:
A Resolution Authorizing Execution of Labor Agreement Between the City of Aurora and Association of Professional Police Officers (APPO) from 01/01/2020 through 12/31/2024.
PURPOSE:
To obtain authorization to execute a Labor Agreement Between the City of Aurora and Association of Professional Police Officers (APPO) from 01/01/2020 through 12/31/2024.
BACKGROUND:
The Association of Professional Police Officers (APPO) contract expired on 12/31/19.
DISCUSSION:
Upon completion of a tentative agreement, the Union ratified the contract on 3/4/22.
Highlights of negotiated terms include retroactive to 7/1/21, employees in this bargaining unit will be paying 16.5% of the monthly premium costs for health insurance, an increase from 15.25% and similar to what other bargaining units are paying.
The ARPA funds gives the City an opportunity to provide two separate enhancements on a one-time basis. First, the City agreed to a hazard pay pool of $2,000.00 per bargaining unit officer. Since the unit is nearly split 50-50, the City agreed that the Union could allocate that payment between Tier I and Tier II officers. The Union has determined to allocate these federal funds by way of a $4,000.00 hazard pay payment to the older, Tier I officers only. Hazard pay is an ARPA-designated use limited to public safety employees and provided for in the emergency legislation and will not be paid from local general funds.
A second one-time incentive is for the purpose of retention and aimed at the Tier I officers who become retirement-eligible (that is, having 20 years of creditable pension service) during the next couple of years. If an officer becomes retirement-eligible in 2022 and stays with the City through 2022, that officer will receive $4,000.00. If that officer stays for an additional year, he or she will receive another $6,000.00 for a total incentive of $10,000.00. If an officer becomes retirement eligible in 2023 and remains employed through 2023, that officer will receive a $6,000.00 retention payment.
For 2020 and 2021, the wage increase is 2.5% and 2%, similar to what other bargaining units received in those years. For years 2022 and 2023, the wage increase is 3.5% per year. For 2024, the wage increase is 3%. The City also agreed to reduce step movement from 10 to 8 which allows for quicker movement through the pay scale and positions the City to be more competitive in this tight labor market.
Within the past year, the City implemented a $20,000 lateral incentive pre-hire program to attract new officers in this very competitive job market. The City was able to include a lateral hire process into the agreement that will replace the need for a pre-employment incentive. This will greatly improve the hiring leverage going forward and puts the City first amongst our nearby and traditional comparable communities which should help us in attraction and retention of officers along with the bonus monies.
Attached is the final document with contract changes.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council authorize the execution of a Labor Agreement Between the City of Aurora and Association of Professional Police Officers (APPO), for the period of 01/01/2020 through 12/31/2024.
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution Authorizing Execution of Labor Agreement Between the City of Aurora and Association of Professional Police Officers (APPO) from 01/01/2020 through 12/31/2024.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora employs numerous personnel in its Police Department in furtherance of the public safety and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City has recognized Association of Professional Police Officers (APPO) as the bargaining agent for the above said employees; and
WHEREAS, a proposed collective bargaining agreement has been negotiated between representatives of the City of Aurora and Association of Professional Police Officers (APPO), and is hereby submitted to the City Council for approval; and
WHEREAS, the City Council find that it is in the best interests of the City and the public welfare that such Labor Agreement be executed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Mayor and City Clerk are hereby authorized to execute the attached Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Aurora and Association of Professional Police Officers (APPO), for the period of 01/01/2020 through 12/31/2024, which is attached hereto and made a part hereof.