Readers Speak Out On 911 Dispatcher Outsourcing

Reaction to the Oak Lawn Village Board’s vote on Nov. 26 to outsource Oak Lawn’s 911 dispatchers was strong and swift, after negotiations with the dispatchers’ union to amend an already collectively bargained contract broke down.

A line has been drawn in the sand, yet Oak Lawn's village manager proclaims that his door is open should the union wish to come back and continue negotiating an amended contract on behalf of the village’s 20 dispatchers. If not, a lawsuit against the village for unfair labor practices is almost certain.

Below is a sampling of reader comments, from the Oak Lawn Patch site and Facebook page. Perhaps seeing such strong public reaction will spur both sides to call their attorneys and try one more time to work out their differences before a contract is signed with a private vendor.

We tried to give a fair representation of reader commentary, but public sentiment appears to be overwhelmingly in support of Oak Lawn's 911 dispatchers.

Suzy Pop (Facebook) - "This was a horrible call by the trustees. They're compromising the safety of their constituents. At least now, I know who I'm not voting for come next election."

Philip Bruzan (Facebook) - "Open your eyes residents of Oak Lawn. Because of this board’s actions against a bargaining unit with a valid contract there will likely be a lawsuit. This will cost thousands! So much for savings. Ask questions. There is so much hidden from you."

Jacqui Podzius Cook (Facebook) - "A few years ago, I was regular caller to 911 for my sick mom. I don't care what their salaries were - it was worth every penny for the quick, skilled, compassionate care my mom got. Frankly, I think they should have been paid more for what they do, and they certainly don't deserve to be fired."

Marilou Purpura (Facebook) - "I am telling you we went through this ourselves in LEMONT...and we just switched back! It is not a good idea. It is very bad....they do not know where half the town is, half the time people had to spell streets for them, if you said there is a bunch of kids by the plaza, by les brothers they would not know where that is! They need street addresses of exact homes [that] they took too long to get there.....LEMONT just switched from central dispatch call them and talk to them...."

Julia Baker (Facebook) - "We have this in Clarendon Hills. The people who answer have no idea where anything is located. I had to call for an ambulance for a neighbor. The person wanted a cross street. I responded by telling them I lived next door to the fire department!"

Kevin Ford (Facebook) - "The inflated salaries on the part of those in non-supervisory positions are the result of mandatory overtime, thanks to the mismanagement of staffing by the directors. Who, btw, are keeping their jobs."

Ann Brus (Facebook) - "… A family member recently had to call 911 and they talked them through performing CPR until the paramedics arrived. The patient survived, I think that's well worth their salary."

Richie Olijar (Facebook) - "I saw A LOT of MABAS 21 firefighters [Nov. 26] as well as police officers. Those dispatchers are our lifeline in many ways."

Tina Main (Facebook) - "Isn't it obvious this problem was created by mismanagement. There wouldn't be overtime if they would have replaced dispatchers or had the supervisors work the floor. Here's an idea.... Get rid of the supervisor who mismanaged the funds and allowed the overtime budget to get so out of control. But please don't criticize the dispatchers who work so hard under such stressful circumstances."

Alicia Nyberg (Facebook) - "I love how the village is willing to lay off 20 very qualified and hard working dispatchers who keep policemen, firemen, and paramedics safe and get them where they need to go quickly, but they are willing to spend huge amounts of money on flowers to "beautify" the town and also the stupid looking Christmas ornaments and presents they place in a field near 95th and Harlem. Why don't they worry about spending money on things of true value? Hopefully with enough backlash from the community, something will be done to save the jobs of these great people."

john artis (Oak Lawn Patch) - "The pain and anger being mentioned on these posts is understood but I wish the advocates for the workers would stop using the term “Oak Lawn jobs were lost.” The real fact is 75 percent of the telecommunicaters do not live in Oak Lawn and yes I understand management does not either but two wrongs do not make it right. So in reality most of the jobs were being outsourced already."

lisa (Oak Lawn Patch) - "Amazing they got rid of all these dispatchers who help everyday because of money, yet I watched a landscape company put lights up, trees and plants up and down 95th street yesterday. That all must be free."                        

Readers: Are you willing to pay higher property taxes to keep your 911 dispatchers and preserve other village services in light of Oak Lawn’s financial woes? And what about those reported salary increases the department’s managers received, who get to keep their jobs? What happened to the proposed salary freezes for village employees? And what about the other municipalities who share Oak Lawn's 911 services? Are they and their residents willing to pay more to keep their dispatchers local?

Tell your government officials how you feel about outsourcing -- whether you're for or against.

Oak Lawn:

Evergreen Park

Burbank

Bridgeview