The Homewood Village Board approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement with raises of 3.5% and 4% with the Metropolitan Alliance of Police (MAP) unions at the Aug. 26 meeting. 

This agreement is between two MAP chapters, 621 for patrol officers and 622 for police sergeants, Terence Acquah, Homewood assistant village manager, said. After the expiration of the MAP 621 four-year agreement on April 30, 2025, the village staff held three meetings with the union in order to negotiate a new contract, Acquah said. 

MAP 622 is a new union, and had four negotiation meetings with the village before finalizing their first agreement, he said.

Acquah says the key highlights from the agreements include the following: 

• Salary increases as a cost of living allowance (COLA) of 3.5% from May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2027, and 4% from May 1, 2027, to April 30, 2028.
• Uniform allowance is now increased from $1,000 to $1,250. 
• Bereavement leave consists of three calendar days per the Family Bereavement Leave Act or at the chief’s discretion. 
• Vacation accrual adjustments have been enhanced to 240 hours after 15 years, and new hires gain additional hours after a year of employment. 
• Retirement health savings include increased employee contribution to 4%. 
• Responder compensation (on-call) has been changed from three hours overtime to five hours overtime per week (affects one sergeant and three officers). 
• Longevity pay, an additional pay boost based on number of years with the department, has been updated to:
  • 6-10 years: $800
  • 10-15 years: $1,100
  • 15-19 years: $1,500
  • Over 19 years: $2,000

Cost of living adjustments (COLA) will also be part of non-union employees salaries.