Carpentersville firefighters and village management disagree on staffing

The Daily Herald recently published an article discussing the growing tension between Carpentersville’s IAFF Local 4790 and the village government over staffing decisions at the fire department. According to full-time firefighters, recent cost-cutting measures by the village have led to longer emergency response times, which they argue could put residents in danger. In response, the union has started a public awareness campaign, primarily through social media, to highlight what they see as a dangerous understaffing situation across the three fire stations. However, village leaders strongly disagree. They claim that the union is simply upset about losing overtime pay under the new contract and that their campaign is nothing more than a scare tactic. Village Manager J. Mark Rooney emphasized that the union doesn’t control how the village operates. “Management is in charge of the village, not the union,” he said. The recent three-year contract between the village and the firefighters’ union does not include a minimum number of firefighters required per shift. Al Popp, the director of public safety, explained that staffing levels are now assessed daily to ensure the best use of available resources. But Lt. Rick Nieves, president of IAFF Local 4790, argues that the current staffing levels—sometimes as low as eight firefighters—are far below the previous minimum of 11 or 12. He also pointed out that only one of the three stations can respond with both a fire engine and an ambulance, while the others must choose between the two. This change, he says, will force the village to rely more on neighboring fire districts for support. Nieves added that the department handles around 3,500 calls annually, and with fewer personnel, response times are expected to increase. While officials admit that the minimum staffing level hasn’t dropped below 10 since the new policy took effect, Nieves was under the impression that the village would maintain the 12-person minimum. In addition, the union has filed a grievance over the use of three part-time firefighters to staff fire engines, claiming it violates the contract. The union has also been reaching out to the public through Facebook and Twitter, as well as meeting with local community leaders like Tom Roeser and a homeowners association. Village Manager Rooney defended the use of part-time firefighters, saying it helps save money and keeps equipment operational. Part-timers earn about $15.55 per hour, compared to full-timers who make around $30.04 per hour in regular time and up to $45.06 when working overtime. He noted that the contract includes a provision stating that each engine company must be staffed with at least three firefighters, but he clarified that this refers to full-time personnel. However, he said the village is using the same language for part-time firefighters, allowing them to operate the trucks. Rooney also highlighted that the three-year contract is expected to save the village around $300,000 in overtime costs over its duration. He said the decision to cut overtime was necessary to manage the budget more effectively, especially with rising expenses in other departments. While the union claims that the issue isn’t about overtime, Nieves insists that the public has a right to know about the potential service cuts. “They need to understand what’s happening,” he said. Village President Ed Ritter supports Rooney’s approach, emphasizing that reducing overtime costs is a top priority for the board. But the divide between the union and the village continues to grow, with both sides standing firm on their positions.

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