LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville firefighters are one step closer to getting a raise.
Metro Council's Public Safety Committee approved a five-year contract during its meeting Wednesday evening.
The firefighters' union previously rejected the city's first offer, claiming longtime firefighters were not getting the same treatment as police and corrections officers.
Union members also said the contract didn't address critical needs, like repairs to rundown firehouses.
But members ultimately voted to approve the same contract at the end of June.
"So we did achieve 24% on our base pay, but we did not achieve the same 24% on longevity which, in our opinion, is the total sum of our salary. That was the biggest hurdle we had to overcome with our membership," said Jeff Taylor, president of IAFF Local 54.
Almost 40% of the union firefighters voted against the contract. The raises will go into effect if the entire Metro Council approves the contract at its next meeting.
The city's firefighters have been working without a new contract for months, as the previous two-year contract expired one year ago on July 1, 2023.
Previous Coverage:
- Louisville firefighters say city is doing little to fix conditions at older firehouses
- Louisville firefighters approve city's 5-year contract after rejecting it in May
- Louisville Metro Council passes mayor's $1.1 billion city budget
- Short dozens of firefighters, Louisville Fire Department makes push to fill 2024 academy class
- Louisville Fire officials say department needs $31 million to catch up on deferred maintenance
- Negotiations paused for now between city and Louisville firefighters' union
- Louisville firefighters reject city's proposed 5-year contract in close vote
- Louisville firefighters frustrated with deferred maintenance after 10-year-old rope used in bridge rescue
- Louisville firefighters working without a contract while city ignores aging stations, equipment
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