Tallahassee firefighter union still negotiating salaries with city after 10 months

After talks that totaled more than 30 hours, 16 negotiation attempts and almost 10 months of pleading, Tallahassee firefighters still have no pay raise in sight.

The Tallahassee Professional Firefighters Association, the Tallahassee Fire Department's labor union, has been negotiating with the city since March to come to an agreement on a new contract, but city leaders have been uncooperative, union leaders say.

"There's been a lot of slow walking," said Joey Davis, the president of the firefighter union. "The last negotiation session, we put two offers on the table, and they came back with no offers."

Deputy Fire Chief Rich Jones countered in an email statement that the union was the one delaying a deal.

“We at the city have put forth a strong proposal with compensation increases for every single firefighter up to 6.5% while union leadership has not taken this offer to their members for a vote," he said in an emailed statement.

In their latest proposal, the first responders union asked for a 4% raise for all firefighter ranks, a 3% raise for everybody else and a 4% reduction in employees' pension contribution, bringing the one-year contract total to $1,075,087.

The union president said the city's last offer was a 4% raise to entry-level firefighters, who make up fewer than 10% of the department; a 2.5% raise to every other rank and a 1.5% raise to fire truck drivers. They said the city's plan also includes a 2.5% pension contribution reduction for all employees and all firefighters would lose $500 a year in an insurance supplement.

Davis said the union is preparing its last and final offer in hopes the city will meet with them this week, but he said officials don't seem willing to schedule the meeting. "It's very concerning that we haven't been able to get anything signed off at the table with the city," he said.

Strained relations between city, fire union negotiators

On the other hand, it took the Tallahassee Police Department just three or four sessions to reach a 3-year agreement that landed them starting salaries for police officers and investigators from just under $50,000 to over $60,000, and raises with average increases of 4.2% for officers, 4.4% for sergeants and 4.1% for lieutenants.

Relations between the firefighter's union and city leaders have been strained and reflected a deep divide in the elected city commission. The fire union publicly backed City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow during last year's election and has fostered strong ties with Jack Porter since she took office, while the police union supported Mayor John Dailey and City Commissioners Dianne Williams-Cox and Curtis Richardson, who make up the majority voting bloc. The two sides are often at odds on city policy and spending decisions.

Getting the desired pay has become more of a politicized issue, Davis said, adding that he thinks the divisive nature of City Hall has played a part in the lack of results.

Davis also said a main reason behind their close relationships with Matlow and Porter over other commissioners was because of their "willingness to listen." Richardson has taken time to hear them out, he said, but Williams-Cox only met with them once and Dailey hasn't responded at all to their meeting requests.

"If you're not able to have those conversations with stakeholders, you just can't effectively lead," he said. "You just can't."

Firefighters feel overlooked, overworked

Union members have packed two city commission meetings in the hopes of triggering those conversations with city leaders. During a September meeting, firefighters and their spouses spoke out about how they feel overlooked and overworked, causing them to miss crucial moments with their families.

"I want you to ask yourself, what kind of city do we have when the people who we rely on to save our lives and property can't afford to live here?" said Annamarie Shealy, a wife of a firefighter. "Where is our priority as a city, if not to support those who serve?"

Half of some firefighters' paychecks are gone before it ever reaches families, said Amy Holland, another wife. Holland said her husband has to work another full-time job to support their family, working an average of 105 hours a week and spending only a few hours with his daughters.

"I teach my children ... about equality and fairness and how to treat others," said Daniel McCoy, who has been a firefighter for 11 years. "Unfortunately, after so many years, so many calls, my family and I don't feel that that's being reciprocated."

Deputy Chief Jones told the Tallahassee Democrat in an interview that the fire department and the union have had a great relationship for years that began under the previous fire chief's leadership.

"We're one team, one city," said Jones, the city official tapped to speak on the subject. "The city of Tallahassee continues to work diligently with the fire union to come to a contract agreement."

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct an earlier version that stated firefighters endorsed City Commissioner Jack Porter in the last election.

Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee firefighters union negotiations over pay raise drag on