Galesburg Aldermen on Monday, November 1st, can approve a collective bargaining agreement with the union representing Galesburg Firefighters. The agreement between the City and IAFF Local No. 555 Galesburg Firefighter’s Association expired in December of 2020. The parties spent extensive time in negotiations including two mediation sessions to reach this agreement. Union members voted to ratify back on Oct. 21. Cost of living increases will include a 2.25% raise retroactive for 2021, a similar raise in 2022, and a 2.5 % raise in 2023. The agreement was also reached on a number of contract modifications as well as a new method for the assignment of overtime within the Department. Aldermen will also again discuss and vote on purchasing a mobile surveillance trailer for the police department. Police Chief Russ Idle has included a memo that describes in more detail how police would use the equipment per the council’s request. Idle says officers would get written instructions on proper use and that all laws regarding privacy would be followed. He says it would have a number of uses including deterring drug trafficking crime, surveillance for large events, traffic Monitoring, and securing Public Buildings and Spaces.
