The city of Kissimmee and the union representing its firefighters are caught in an impasse Thursday night.

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The union declined to accept the city’s offer to increase salaries, along with other benefits after going back and forth for four hours.

Firefighters said they’re concerned about slow response times and short staffing because of the low pay.

According to the union, Kissimmee is losing firefighters to other departments because of low pay.

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Stephen Gonnella is the president of the local firefighter union and has worked at the department for nine years. He and the union said Kissimmee has slower response times.

Kissimmee fire did not provide data to show what the response time was before, but did provide their current response time.

Kissimmee said it takes them 11 minutes and 43 seconds or longer to respond in one out of 10 calls.

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A FEMA report found the nationwide response time is less than 11 minutes.

Both the union and the city noted their response time is heavily impacted by traffic.

The union said response times could improve if they could recruit more staff and earn a higher salary.

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Kissimmee firefighters currently make a starting base pay of $43,680. They’re talking about increasing that by 17% to more than $51,000, aligning more to what Osceola County’s firefighters make.

The union says the city’s proposal won’t benefit employees who have stayed with the department.

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