Crime & Safety

Union Contract Amendments Cut Cost of New Firefighter by $78K

Savings seen in first six years of employment for new firefighters

The contract amendments City Council voted to approve at Monday night's council meeting will save the city $78,000 over six years for every new firefighter hired after May 1.

The proposed contract would cut the starting annual wages for firefighters hired after May 1 by more than $15,000, from just over $60,000 to $45,000. The pay ceiling – about $71,500 – will not change, but it will take longer for firefighters to reach it  – six years rather than the current three years. Their holidays will also be reduced.

The fire department has six vacancies and expects to have three more soon due to retirements. Chief Patrick Kearns expects to fill all these positions by the end of the year.

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International Association of Firefighters Local 2388 President Matt Domonkos was happy with the amendments, he said. "When you look at the finances of the city and the services they offer, it's still a great place to work for," he said.

In July the city staff told the IAFF Local 2388 that it would like to hire part-time firefighters, and the union came back with this alternative, said Kearns.

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 on the union's solution.


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