Major Du Quoin labor contracts expire; negotiating session held

Three members of the Du Quoin city council were to meet with representatives of the Fraternal Order of Police labor union this morning, one of two major city labor contracts that expired at the end of 2014.

Mayor Rex Duncan comments:

"Both of our union contracts expired at the end of 2014. In order to save on legal fees, (finance commissioner) Kathy West and I have been representing the city in contract negotiations with the Laborers and the Fraternal Order of Police. Due to travel plans Kathy won't be able to continue. Yvonne will join me in those negotiations going forward.

"We meet tomorrow morning with the police bargaining team. Kathy will be in the meeting, and Yvonne will participate to observe and facilitate her transition into this role. Since there will be three council members (me, Kathy, and Yvonne) in attendance, that constitutes a quorum. Under the Open Meetings Act, we need to do this as a special meeting with an agenda and public announcement.

"We will open the meeting at 9:50, vote to go into executive session for purposes of collective bargaining, do the negotiations in executive session, come out of executive session into open session, and adjourn.

"There won't be any actions taken," the mayor said.