It's a first for the QCA. The local AFSCME chapter in Moline has entered into an agreement with the city. The agreement, union employees will have to take furlough days and delay their annual raises. It's a way to save jobs. Part of the deal, members of Moline's local AFSCME chapter can't be laid off due to budget cuts. And union members that were let go, will get their jobs back. "The membership agreed with concessions to bring the 2 people back that were laid off, they were going to eliminate 2 other jobs, save those 2 other jobs," says Arnie McCollom, President of AFSCME Local 1132.

That's only one of the factors why the local AFSCME chapter made the deal. Knowing they won't be laid off to balance the budget is another reason. McCollom adds, "It gives them piece of mind that with what's been going on throughout the city financially, that they're going to have their jobs, they're going to keep their wages."

The union represents a wide variety of city employees. From the public works department, to parks employees, and workers at city hall, protection from the agreement is wide spread. Helping the city deal with it's deficit. "We've estimated a 270-thousand dollar savings over a 27 month period including 3 budget years," according to Lew Steinbrecher, Moline City Administrator.

To help moline save money, all AFSCME members will not receive a portion of their annual raise until July 2011. They'll also take 4 furlough days. Those will be spread out over 2 and a half years. "While it's not a tremendous amount of money, it's an alternative to laying off employees off and if we can save 1 or 2 jobs, and we can maintain urban services to the residents we've done our jobs," says Steinbrecher.

This agreement is rare between a city and a union. But both sides hope more officials will consider something similar to save jobs. "Times are tough all over the place, so hopefully maybe other cities and other places will look to us as a model as what to do," says McCollom.