Alton Alderwoman Urges Updates As Public Works Negotiations Continue

City of Alton - Committee of the Whole Meeting

ALTON – Reports of the Alton Public Works Department potentially going on strike have prompted calls for updates as contract talks remain underway.

At the Aug. 10, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting, Alderwoman Rosie Brown said reports of a possible Public Works strike raise concerns given the impact of the department’s work on local families.

Brown commended Director John Mitchell and his staff for recently completing new crosswalks as the Alton School District’s first day of school approaches on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. She urged the public to remain alert as children will soon be out and about on their ways to and from school.

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Corporation Counselor Heidi Eckert said contract negotiations are currently in progress, but said she was unsure of their current status as of the committee’s Aug. 10, 2026 meeting.

“If we can get regular updates, that would be good, because how can we sleep at night not knowing what’s getting ready to happen?” Brown said. “They’re already understaffed; as alderpeople, we’re getting all kinds of calls … they’re doing the best they can with what they have.”

The Public Works Department includes the Street Department, Animal Control, Storm Water Maintenance, Forestry Division, and more. Each of these departments have been without a contract since the last agreement between the city and their collective bargaining agency, Teamsters Local Union No. 525, expired on March 31, 2026.

“Hopefully, they’ll come to an agreement,” Alderman John Meehan added. “That’s our hope.”

A full recording of the Aug. 10, 2026 Alton Committee of the Whole meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.

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