The Daily Herald recently covered a developing conflict between the Carpentersville IAFF Local 4790 and the village regarding staffing levels. According to the firefighters, recent cost-saving measures implemented by the village have led to slower response times, which they argue could endanger the safety of residents. In response, the union has launched a public awareness initiative primarily through social media to highlight what they see as insufficient staffing at the village's three fire stations. On one side, the full-time firefighters assert that the village's actions are compromising their ability to quickly respond to emergencies. They've been vocal about their concerns, emphasizing that the reduction in personnel directly impacts the community's safety. Their campaign aims to educate the public on the staffing shortages and the potential risks involved. From the village's perspective, however, the union seems to be expressing regret over the newly signed contract, particularly concerning the loss of overtime opportunities. Village leaders dismiss the firefighters' efforts as mere scare tactics designed to manipulate public opinion. They stress that the management of daily village operations falls under their jurisdiction, not the union's. "Management is responsible for running the village, not the union," stated Village Manager J. Mark Rooney. Last month, the village and the union reached a three-year agreement without setting a fixed minimum number of firefighters per shift for the three fire stations. According to Al Popp, Director of Public Safety, the village is continuously evaluating staffing needs to ensure optimal resource distribution across the area. However, Lt. Rick Nieves, president of the IAFF Local 4790, expressed concern over the possibility of having as few as eight firefighters on duty, compared to the previous minimum of 11 or 12. The union represents all 32 full-time firefighters in Carpentersville. Additionally, Nieves noted that Station No. 1 is the sole station capable of deploying both an ambulance and a fire engine simultaneously, whereas the other two stations can only provide one or the other. Previously, each station could dispatch both vehicles. As a result, the village will likely depend more heavily on neighboring fire protection districts such as East Dundee, West Dundee, and Rutland Dundee to compensate for these changes. "With 3,500 calls annually, having fewer personnel available means longer response times," Nieves explained. "There’s no doubt that the times will increase." Despite these concerns, officials confirm that the department hasn't yet reached the eight-person staffing minimum since the policy change on October 19th. Currently, there are usually 10 firefighters on duty, with an average of 11. Nieves mentioned that he believed the village intended to keep the 12-person minimum. "Once we learned otherwise, it became clear that there was an issue," he added. The union has filed a grievance over a separate matter, arguing that the contract was breached when part-time firefighters were assigned to operate fire engines. In the meantime, the union has been reaching out to the public via Facebook and Twitter, as well as engaging with local homeowners associations and influential figures like businessman Tom Roeser. Rooney insists that staffing fire engines with part-time firefighters is permissible under the contract and helps reduce costs while keeping equipment operational. Part-time firefighters earn approximately $15.55 per hour, compared to full-timers who make around $30.04 during regular hours and $45.06 when on overtime. A provision in the full-timers' contract mandates that fire engines must have at least three firefighters on board, specifying "full-time firefighters" as the required personnel. Rooney clarified that he interprets this clause to allow part-time firefighters to operate the trucks as well, enabling him to maximize efficiency and avoid cutting services. The new three-year contract totals $572,000 and includes 2% annual raises for full-time firefighters. Lieutenants receive a 7.14% raise in the first year followed by 2% increases in subsequent years. Rooney claims that the union's dissatisfaction stems from his decision to curtail overtime spending. This year, the village anticipates spending around $100,000 on fire department overtime, with a budgeted $60,000 allocated for next year. Over the contract's duration, Rooney expects to save approximately $300,000 in overtime expenses. In the past, the village hired back full-time firefighters if someone called in sick and no part-time replacement was available. At $1,080 per day per employee in overtime costs, Rooney emphasized the financial strain of maintaining high staffing levels. The new contract grants greater flexibility in managing staffing based on daily needs. "They don’t like being reminded that they work for the residents, not the other way around," Rooney said about the firefighters. "For years, they’ve gotten everything they wanted. Now, they need to adjust." Village President Ed Ritter supports Rooney, stating that reducing overtime costs is a top priority for the board. Nevertheless, Nieves insists that the union's grievances are unrelated to overtime payments. "The community deserves transparency regarding the service cuts they’ll face," Nieves remarked. Thanks, Dan! 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'Get with the Program'
June 21, 2025