Normal firefighters have new contract

Posted on October 6, 2020

*Each year of the contract, firefighters will get raises of 2.265 percent, costing taxpayers an extra $110,000 the first year, the staff’s report said. (WJBC file photo)*

NORMAL – The Normal Town Council has signed off on a union contract that gives the town’s firefighters annual pay raises of almost 2.3 percent.

Without discussion, the council voted unanimously to approve a four-year deal that was reached after less than 10 hours of negotiations, according to the staff’s report to the council.

Each year of the contract, firefighters will get raises of 2.265 percent, costing taxpayers an extra $110,000 the first year, the staff’s report said.

According to our news partner HOI ABC, relations between the town and the firefighters union haven’t always been harmonious. In fact, firefighters in Normal walked off their jobs for 56 days in 1978. State law now forbids firefighters and police from striking, and staffers said their relationship between with the firefighters union has matured over many years.

WJBC News can be reached at [email protected]

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