By a unanimous vote of the Collinsville City Council Monday, police officers became the first City employees to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
In place of a 2 percent raise in the third year of the new contract, the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge no. 103 – which represents uniformed officers – agreed to add Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an 11th paid holiday that year and accept a 1.5 percent raise. The officers will receive a 2 percent raise in 2014 and 2015, with a 1.5 percent raise in 2016.
In the past, City Manager Scott Williams had unsuccessfully bargained with the unions representing various City of Collinsville work groups, asking them to trade an existing holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Williams did not want to grant an 11th holiday because it costs about $40-50,000 to give City employees a holiday, Williams said.
The new FOP contract will not cost the City additional money to add the holiday. Receiving the additional day of pay, or overtime pay for those working, works out to be about the same as receiving the additional .5 percent raise, Williams said.
“As long as we don’t give that .5 percent back in the future, the deal will continue to pay for itself,” Williams said.
The FOP proposed the compromise that was adopted as part of the contract Monday. Williams gave credit to the FOP negotiating team.
“They worked long and hard on this; they went back and talked to their membership,” Williams said. “I’m not sure what the vote tally was over at the department, but I understand it was a pretty strong commitment to this and they should be commended for that.”
Detective Mark Kuechle, a member of the FOP negotiating team, said the Collinsville Police Department was pleased to be able to work with the City to honor the memory of King.
“Our lodge has long valued the work of Dr. King as he was not only a champion for civil rights but worker’s rights as well.,” Kuechle said.
Williams said he hoped the contract will have a domino effect on negotiations with the city’s other five unions.
“We are hopeful that the other unions, in future negotiations, will follow suit,” Williams said.
Pastor Avery Duff, of New Mt. Zion Church, said his congregation has had patience, while praying for recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day by Collinsville employees. Duff said he knew Williams had worked hard for a couple of years to work a deal with the unions.
“I commend Scott Williams and the FOP for realizing the importance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” Duff said.
See previous stories:
Collinsville City Council to vote on first union contract to authorize MLK holiday
