Council approves firefighter contract change removing sick‑time requirement for bereavement

The Crookston City Council voted to approve a firefighter union contract amendment that removes language requiring firefighters to use sick time for bereavement leave while preserving the existing two‑day paid bereavement allowance.

City staff explained the change is intended to align local practice with other employers and governments and to avoid forcing grieving employees to exhaust sick time for bereavement. Staff said the amendment does not increase the number of bereavement days and should have minimal fiscal impact.

Council members discussed whether the change should have been negotiated directly by the union; staff said the draft contract before the council includes the bereavement language without the sick‑time requirement but that the council can amend the language if it wishes. The contract passed on roll call.