Des Plaines firefighters to get pay raises under proposed contract

Des Plaines’ firefighters are set to get 3% pay raises May 1 under a proposed four-year contract.

They also would get 1.75% raises the next day to keep their salaries competitive with those of other firefighters in the region, documents indicate.

Additional salary bumps would follow.

The city council is scheduled to vote on the contract Monday night.

The pact applies to firefighters, lieutenants and fire inspectors represented by the International Association of Firefighters — 85 positions in all. It will be effective immediately.

The previous contract expired Dec. 31. Union and city representatives have been negotiating since August 2024.

If approved, the new deal with run through Dec. 31, 2028.

Rather than making the proposed raises retroactive to the start of this year, firefighters and inspectors will receive $1,700 bonuses and lieutenants will receive $2,000 bonuses, documents indicate.

In addition to the pay increases scheduled for this year, employees covered by the proposed pact would receive 3.5% raises in January 2026 and January 2027 and 3% raises in January 2028.

Also, in January 2026, the city will remove a step in the department’s salary schedule to reduce the number of years it takes for employees to reach the top grade, city spokesperson Brad Goodman said.

“This aligns with comparable communities, which ensures that the Des Plaines Fire Department is competitive in recruitment efforts,” Goodman said.

Goodman said both parties worked cooperatively to reach an agreement. It took a while because of scheduling conflicts, he said.

The contract is included in Monday’s consent agenda, which is reserved for routine matters that don’t require discussion.

Monday’s council meeting is set for 7 p.m. at city hall, 1420 Miner St. It’s open to the public and also will be livestreamed at desplainesil.gov/livestream.