(KMOV) -- The East St. Louis Fire Department is collecting money for 13 of their own who were laid off during the summer.
East St. Louis firefighters collected money in intersections for five firefighters who lost their jobs in May and eight others who lost their jobs last month.
The fire union and city met for negotiations on possible concessions to rehire firefighters last month. The union rejected offers that would have brought eight back on duty. Union members said they would not agree to deal that did not bring back all 13 firefighters laid off since May.
In August, East St. Louis also laid off 19 police officers and seven other city positions in the latest round of budget cuts. The police union and city later reached an agreement and all 19 police officers were rehired
There are now 36 firefighters for the 30,000 living in East St. Louis. At 5:30, the fire fighters at 47th and State Street had raised $900.
