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Contract reached with SIUC Police Department, University
After almost three years of contract negotiations, the SIUC Police Department will finally receive pay increases.
The University and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council that represented the SIUC Police reached an agreement through an arbitrator Nov. 12.
Arbitrator Lamont Stallworth, professor at Loyola University in Chicago, sided with the SIUC Police Department on salary increases but agreed with the University on longevity pay and educational incentive pay.
The agreement covers three full contract years that will end in June 2004.
The arbitrator awarded police officers and corporals an 8 percent salary increase for hours worked since July 1, 2001. They will also receive an additional 2 percent increase for hours worked since July 1, 2003. They receive no increase for the 2002 to 2003 contract year.
Police sergeants, who have a separate contract with FOP, also negotiated a contract through the arbitrator. Police sergeants will receive a 10 percent increase for their hours worked since July 1, 2001, and an additional 2 percent for hours since July 2003.
"I think the University respects the arbitrator's decision," said University Spokeswoman Sue Davis. "I would note that the arbitrator looked at additional wage increase requests and educational requests and denied those."
The University wanted to compare the SIUC Police Department to other departments in Southern Illinois, including Jackson and Williamson counties.
Bill Mehrtens, FOP field representative, said the arbitrator relied on comparing the SIUC Police Department with other universities in the state of Illinois.
SIUC was compared to SIU-Edwardsville, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Northern Illinois University, Eastern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, Illinois State University and the University of Illinois Springfield.
SIUC officer salary generally starts around $34,000, which is $4,500 less than officer starting pay for officers at SIUE. FOP statistics indicate SIUC officers with 15 years experience are paid close to $5,000 less than officers with the same experience at SIUE.
"We're very positive about the decision because we were making the point in arbitration that SIUC police officers should properly be compared to police officers at other universities throughout the state of Illinois," he said.
During the time the University and police department were negotiating, officers did not strike or take job action because of an Illinois law prohibiting such actions.
"The officers work under the terms of the old agreement while the new one is being resolved, so there was never a time that they were not under contract," Mehrtens said.
"We're glad that this is behind us. We look forward to a new and positive relationship with the University and will get ready to write a new contract in the spring of 2004."
