The Streator City Council approved a four-year collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Firefighters, Streator Firefighters Local 56, authorizing pay increases and expanded certification stipends, council documents and speakers said.

City staff and the union framed the contract as a first step to address a pay disparity and to help recruit and retain firefighters who provide emergency medical services. Eddie Lee, president of Streator Firefighters Local 56, urged council approval and described the disparity between long‑tenured firefighters and newer officers.

City staff presented the agreement as a four‑year term that includes a $5,000 increase in the first year followed by 4% increases in each of the remaining three years. City staff also said the agreement expands certification stipends to encourage firefighters to obtain and maintain EMT Basic, EMT Intermediate and paramedic certifications. The contract contains language on filling lieutenant/captain openings from promotional lists and other administrative provisions summarized by staff.

“The agreement before you tonight starts to address that process,” a city presenter said, describing the contract’s pay structure and certification incentives. Eddie Lee told council members that Streator firefighters perform high‑level EMS work alongside contract providers and pressed the need to compensate paramedic‑level skills.

A motion to adopt Resolution 202501 — authorizing execution of the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Streator and IAFF Local 56 for Jan. 1, 2025–Dec. 31, 2028 — was moved and seconded; council called the roll and recorded ayes from several members. The resolution instructs city staff to execute the agreement with the union.

The council discussion did not include a detailed closed‑door negotiation summary; staff said deeper negotiation rationale would normally be discussed in closed session if council wished to examine bargaining strategy.

The contract will take effect according to its terms once executed by the city and the union. City staff said the pay changes and certification stipends are intended to reduce turnover and aid recruitment but noted the process will take multiple contracts and years to fully address wage gaps.

Questions about implementation timelines, exact eligibility for the stipends, and how the new language will interact with existing EMS service contracts were raised during the presentation; staff said implementation details would be handled administratively as the agreement is executed.