Members of the union representing 11 municipal employees from the Department of Public Works, Code Enforcement, Recreation and the Municipal Court who received notice that their jobs would be terminated on May 16 voted to approve concessions to prevent layoffs at a secret ballot vote at the Baird on Tuesday evening.

According to OPEIU Local 32 attorney Kevin McGovern, 34 of the 40 to 45 full dues-paying members eligible to vote showed up at the 5 p.m. meeting, and the plan passed by a "significant margin" he declined to reveal.

The terms of the plan dictate that members will contribute anywhere from 0.5 percent to 2 percent of their wages to cover their health insurance policies depending on the type of coverage they have, but the provision expires on Dec. 31, 2010. (They currently pay nothing for their health care.) They would also take a total of 12 furlough days between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010, breaking down to six days each year.

Though the plan calls for a zero percent salary increase in 2009 and retroactively for 2008, a 2 percent increase would go into effect on July 1, 2010. Union members will have the option to opt out of the Village's health care plan and roll the savings over into their salaries for the first time.

The plan also contains layoff disincentives for the Village during the life of the proposed contract through Dec. 31, 2010. If layoffs are sought before that time, all of the concessions would be wiped out.

"We could effectively go back to the table on wages," McGovern said.

The plan will now go to the Board of Trustees on April 27, and they must ratify it for it to take effect.