EAST CHICAGO — A five-year legal battle between East Chicago firefighters and Mayor Anthony Copeland has come to a close: the two sides reached an agreement that will give the firefighters $1.2 million in damages as part of a settlement.

The dispute dates back to East Chicago’s 2019 mayoral election. In the lawsuit, East Chicago Professional Firefighters Local 365 alleged that Copeland’s office retaliated for their support of an opposing candidate by mandating a new work schedule that would have impacted firefighters’ ability to maintain proper sleep and work/life balance.

The initial support of Copeland’s opponent in an election year, the firefighters argued, was over cost-cutting measures, including a freeze on pay and benefits, that they claim left their department under-resourced.

The firefighters were represented in the case by counsel for the International Association of Firefighters.

“No firefighter should face retaliation for speaking up about public safety,” said IAFF General President Edward Kelly. “Local 365 was right to fight back. This settlement is a hard-fought victory for them. The IAFF was proud to stand with our East Chicago members to defend their rights.”

In addition to the salary freeze, the initial cost-cutting measures included abolishing terminal leave and freezing longevity and grade pay. The firefighters also alleged Copeland was upset that several of their members protested at his 2019 inauguration.

Over the next few years, alleged retaliatory measures taken by Copeland included vetoing a Common Council ordinance that would have restored some salary benefits, removing beds from at least one firehouse, and a shift in scheduling, which changed firefighters from a 24/48 schedule to an eight-hour swing shift rotation.

“The only things this union has ever sought are fair wages, benefits and safe working conditions,” said Local 365 President David Mata. “These actions taken by the city felt like punishment for speaking up when those basic needs were not being met.”

The original, traditional 24/48 shift schedule was restored due to a federal district court injunction in 2021.

A possible settlement was proposed by a mediator, and accepted by the parties, in May. A final judgment was given last year in the city’s favor, but the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled in May that the Lake Superior Court used improper procedure to make the determination, thus restarting the case.

Copeland, himself a former East Chicago firefighter, and his legal team have maintained that the initial work schedule change was about saving taxpayer money for overtime work.

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