Deal prevents layoffs of 16 Ill. firefighters

Union President Brandon Walls declined to discuss the terms of the agreement but said he was glad no one would be laid off

October 16, 2013 03:16 AM

The Belleville News-Democrat

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — City officials and International Association of Firefighters Union Local 23 reached an agreement Tuesday to prevent the 16 firefighters from being laid off.

“We have found a way to keep all 53 firefighters on through the end of the year. Second, if everything goes as planned, even beyond 2013 we plan to have no layoffs of firefighters in the foreseeable future. This could mean all of the way through 2016,” Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. said. “It is really commendable that all involved individuals have found creative ways to bring this solution about.”

Union President Brandon Walls declined to discuss the terms of the agreement but said he was glad no one would be laid off. He also thanked the FAA and IAFF for the role they played.