Rock Valley College declares impasse with Fraternal Order of Police

Posted: Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Media Contact: Dave Costello, 815-921-4516

The Board of Trustees of Rock Valley College and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police ("FOP") have been engaged in negotiations for a successor contract for the College's police officers since February 2011.  After a number of sessions, the parties commenced Federal Mediation on March 26, 2012, and from March 26, 2012 to October 12, 2012 the parties participated in a number of sessions with the mediator. 

On October 12, 2012 the College submitted its last best proposal to the FOP.  The last best proposal included a number of tentative agreements previously reached between the parties.  The FOP was provided with an opportunity to review the Board's last best proposal and to respond.  On October 12, 2012 the FOP rejected the proposal and did not submit an acceptable counter-proposal to the College.  Due to the FOP's rejection of the Board's last best proposal, the College determined that impasse had been reached. 

Despite significant progress on resolving economic and language issues, one of the sticking points appears to be the FOP's proposal that they have mandatory interest arbitration.  Mandatory interest arbitration requires the parties to use an outside arbitrator to decide the contract terms when the College and the officers cannot reach an agreement.  This takes control of the bargaining process out of the hands of the College and the officers and gives it to an outsider.  Our cohort Community Colleges do not have such interest arbitration requirements.

As a result of impasse, the College has designated its Oct 12, 2012 proposal as its last, best, and final offer, which, if not accepted, will be implemented over impasse.  The FOP will have until November 27, 2012, to accept the offer.  If the FOP does not accept, the College intends to implement the terms of its last best offer on December 7, 2012. 

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