Excerpts from Mywebtimes.com:
This year, the Streator Fire Department introduced a new policy that requires firefighters to respond to most medical emergencies. However, the firefighters’ union is challenging this change, arguing that it should have been subject to collective bargaining. The union filed a complaint with the Illinois Labor Relations Board in March, and the board has yet to take any action.
The International Association of Firefighters claims the city violated labor laws by failing to negotiate in good faith over the policy change. They are asking the labor board to force the city to engage in meaningful discussions about the new rules.
In January, the city mandated that all firefighters complete first responder training as part of their annual requirements. Then, on March 1, the department issued a directive that required firefighters to provide first responder care during life-threatening emergencies, according to the union’s complaint.
The following day, the union wrote to City Manager Scot Wrighton, demanding that the city negotiate the changes. Wrighton refused to engage in talks.
The policy shift came after St. Mary’s Hospital in Springfield closed on January 4 and was quickly sold to OSF Healthcare, which operates hospitals in Ottawa and Pontiac. This led to a disruption in local emergency services.
Under the new policy, the fire department will be dispatched for the highest-priority medical emergencies, and they may also be called upon for other incidents when needed.
In his response dated March 14, Wrighton explained that the city had formed a partnership with Advanced Medical Transport, the local ambulance service, to provide first responder training. He said this arrangement was meant to help ease the impact of recent changes in emergency care across the community.
During a meeting between labor and management, the union admitted it couldn’t prove any direct financial impact that would require bargaining. However, both sides acknowledged that firefighters could face risks like exposure to blood-borne pathogens while responding to medical calls. As a result, the city agreed to cover the cost of all necessary vaccinations.
According to Wrighton, under the state Public Labor Relations Act, offering first responder training is considered an improvement in service standards, which the city is legally allowed to implement without prior negotiation.
Thanks, Dan
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