Council ratifies three-year city union contract with wage, benefit and training provisions

The Streator City Council approved a three-year contract with the local union represented in Resolution 2026-01, covering Oct. 1, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2028.

City staff summarized key contract provisions: "4 and a half percent increases each of those 3 years," and a change in employee participation in health insurance from 15% to 17% that will be imposed after similar language appears in two other contracts, the staff presentation said. The contract also provides tuition reimbursement for employees who need training to obtain commercial driver licenses (CDLs), and delays the start of the probationary period for employees until they obtain a CDL so performance can be evaluated after training is completed. Staff also described a $100 increase in a specified annual reimbursement.

Council discussed the terms and confirmed the contract had been ratified by the union. The clerk called the roll and the recorded votes were Aye from Jacob, Gary, Reid, Shire and Mayor (as recorded) and the resolution passed.

City staff said the contract aligns compensation steps and adds workforce supports, such as CDL training assistance and clarified probation rules for positions requiring CDLs. Implementation and budget adjustments will be handled during the city's routine financial process.