East St. Louis Police Officers Layoffs Reversed

Nineteen East St. Louis have returned to their positions after a union vote reversed their layoffs. It wasn’t all roses, however. The police officers will return with a 20 percent pay cut, coming in the form of unpaid furlough days throughout the year.

The union came to a vote on Thursday, resulting in a 23-14 vote in favor of reinstating the officers.

While the officers have their jobs for now, they may have to worry next year, as St. Louis faces a budget shortfall that is likely to result in future layoffs.

The nineteen police officers represented 30 percent of the city’s police force. The firefighters union representing 11 previously laid-off firefighters may end up making a similar deal to reinstate their positions.