Excerpts from theDailyHerald.com: The Elgin firefighters’ union has raised concerns over a recent decision by the city that led to a labor complaint. Three members of the union were reportedly asked to cut their hair, which they had been growing as a form of protest against the city's failure to finalize a new contract for over two years. Vince Rychtanek, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 439, along with Vice President Edward Hanson and Shop Steward Joe Villella, began letting their hair grow in April 2015. They have been working without a formal contract since January 2014, and the issue is currently under arbitration. Rychtanek explained that the union’s complaint, dated February 9, isn’t about the length of their hair, but rather about the department making changes to grooming policies without first engaging in collective bargaining with the union. “Grooming standards are typically considered a mandatory subject of negotiation,†he said. Fire Chief John Fahy stated that the department’s policy requires all members to maintain a neat and clean appearance. According to him, only Edward Hanson was specifically asked to cut his hair, and he did not comply initially. Villella had already cut his hair earlier in the year after a conversation with a former assistant chief, while Rychtanek followed suit after being asked by his battalion chief. Fahy described the situation as one of personal appearance, noting that Rychtanek and Hanson’s hair had become “shaggy†and “unkempt.†He emphasized that the policy applies to all members, and it’s not about targeting anyone in particular. He also mentioned that fire departments across the country have varying grooming standards, some more detailed than others, covering aspects like hair length, piercings, and tattoos. However, he insisted that the Elgin Fire Department doesn’t have a widespread issue with grooming. “We have three members who are upset about the arbitration process,†he said, adding that the rest of the department follows the rules. Rychtanek agreed that the issue is ultimately about the stalled contract negotiations. “We don’t want long hair — we just want the city to sit down and negotiate,†he said. The dispute centers around a provision related to minimum staffing levels, which has kept the contract in arbitration for over two years. “It’s unacceptable that firefighters have gone more than two years without a contract,†Rychtanek added. “This is how the city negotiates — they always go straight to arbitration.†Thanks, Dan Interlocking Stitches,Multifunction, Stitch Length and Tension Control Zhejiang Lejiang Machine Co., Ltd. , https://www.cnlejiang.com
June 26, 2025