Police, Firefighter Unions Agree To Evanston Staff Vaccine Mandate

EVANSTON, IL — City officials announced that two of the unions representing Evanston employees have agreed to the city's new mandatory COVID-19 vaccination or testing policy for staff.

Announced last month, the city's staff vaccine mandate takes effect Nov. 16. All city employees who do not provide proof of full coronavirus vaccination must submit weekly test results to the city's health department.

The local bargaining units of the International Association of Firefighters and the Fraternal Order of Police — which represents patrol officers; sergeants have a separate unit — have both signed on to memoranda of understanding with the city regarding the new mandate, according to city staff.

“Thank you to the FOP Patrol and IAFF unions, Health & Human Services Department, Law Department and Human Resources Division for working together in good faith to reach these agreements, which will make our entire community safer,” Interim City Manager Kelley Gandurski said in a statement announcing the agreements. “I greatly appreciate our entire City staff team for their cooperation and continued hard work during this very challenging time in our history.”

Billy Lynch, president of the Evanston Firefighters Local 742, thanked Gandurski and other city staff for approaching the issue the right way.

"Since the onset of the pandemic, firefighters and paramedics have worked extremely hard to keep the City of Evanston and its residents safe,” Lynch said in the statement.

“They have sacrificed their time, personal safety and contractual benefits to advance the City's COVID-19 response," he added. "Deservedly, their voice was heard through ratifying this collaborative MOU. We hope the City will continue to work with Local 742 as we navigate these challenges together."

Earlier: Evanston Mandates COVID-19 Vaccine Or Testing For City Employees

Copies of the memoranda were not available from city staff Tuesday. Patch has filed a public records request for copies and will provide update this story with any additional information received.

City officials are continuing to attempt to hammer out agreements with the Evanston police sergeant's union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, the two other unions that represent Evanston city workers.

More than 83 percent of Evanston residents aged 12 and above are fully vaccinated, according to data from Evanston Health and Human Services Department.

According to a city spokesperson, 588 of the Evanston’s approximately 700 municipal employees are represented by unions.

The two memoranda announced Monday include 136 members of the patrol officers union and 99 firefighters. Still outstanding: deals with the 18-member sergeants union and the largest representative of local municipal workers, AFSCME, which represents 335 employees.

Police and fire department representatives in other cities have pushed back against vaccination mandates, which have become the subject of pending court challenges in state and federal court.

Mayor Daniel Biss thanked Gandurski and city staff for coordinating productive discussions that have led to agreements with two of the four unions representing city staff.

“Our police officers and firefighters have served our community courageously throughout the COVID-19 pandemic," Biss said. "I am grateful to members of both unions for taking this additional, critical step to keep our community safe and healthy."

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• Chicago Police Union Warns Of Workforce Shortage, Threatens Suit
• Illinois FOP Opposes Vaccine Mandate For Certain Officers