(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Chicago Firefighters Union has contract talks with the city Thursday and Friday. There seems to be a small glimmer of hope from the union that there may be some movement after years of little or no progress.
“Yeah, it’s over three and a half years. We still go to work loyally. No pay raises. Working on rigs that break down,” Pat Cleary, the union president, said.
He says a text from the mayor last month - “Yo! It’s Brandon. Give me a call”.
“It was nice that he showed interest in getting it done.”
Cleary said, after the conversation with the mayor last month, the city came around and offered proposals.
“The past negotiations, the negotiators for the city were not prepared to discuss anything.”
New ambulances are part of the demands. Cleary says there often aren’t any available.
“The city collected approximately $349 million just from ambulances this past year. That’s the money that should go back to the fire department.”
He notes that’s at a collection rate of 40%.
Pay, benefits, staffing, and maintaining equipment are also issues.
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