Streator council, police union agree on 3-year deal

The Streator City Council and the Streator police union will avoid arbitration. The two groups reached an agreement the council approved unanimously Tuesday night.

The contract gives a 2.5% cost-of-living increase in pay for 2021 (retroactively), 2022 and 2023 of the three-year contract that had expired at the end of 2020.

“Early next year, we will begin negotiating a new agreement,” said Streator City Manager David Plyman.

The agreement also allows officers to wear facial hair on the job at 0.5 inches, and at the discretion of the police chief. The previous agreement was more restrictive in how officers were groomed.

Police union members have agreed to pay 17% of the cost in their health insurance premiums, which is an increase from other city unions that pay 15% of the cost of their health insurance premiums.

Plyman said longevity pay and pay for starting officers as both relate to similar markets will be among the items discussed during the next round of negotiations.