§ 6-1. Sickness of certain employees.

For all employees hired into the fire service prior to July 1, 1979, no deduction shall be made in the salaries of employees on account of non-line-of-duty illness or injury, provided such sickness does not last longer than 6 months; and provided further, that if an employee shall absent himself from duty on account of non-line-of-duty illness or injury he shall, before receiving his salary, present or have presented to the unit officer of the company of which he is a member, a certificate from the physician employed by the Fire Department, stating that the employee on account of illness or injury, is unable to perform his or her duties.