The Fulton Professional Firefighters Union started negotiations with City of Fulton administration on Friday in an effort to increase pay for fire department employees as well as update the current agreement between the union and the city with changed policies and procedures.
The 20-page document was agreed upon between the two entities in 2004. The union - the only one for Fulton - presented a new contract to the city that is seven pages longer and outlines the group's desire for higher wages.
Currently, entry level pay for a Fulton firefighter (requiring firefighter 1 and 2 training before his or her second anniversary) is $8.65 per hour. Fire union members - like all city employees - were offered a five percent pay increase included in the 2015 city budget, which the city council gave final approval of at its last meeting on Nov. 25.
The union felt the bump wasn't enough and instead requested a 10 percent pay increase. The city denied the counter offer.
Union President Merit McLeod said firefighters have never had trouble receiving the same pay increases as all other city employees, but he wants to see the Fulton Fire Department compensation "on par" with comparable fire departments and districts in the state. Fulton's call volume average at 1,400 per year, according to McLeod, and entry-level pay for a firefighter (not probationary) is at $8.65 per hour minimum and $12.85 per hour maximum. Calculating a 48-hour work week without considering taxes, that comes to $19,929.60 per year and $29,606.40, respectively. After six months at the firefighter status, the per hour rates increases to $9.05, which comes to $22,588.80.
Entry-level pay for the Kirksville Fire Department, which has a call volume of 1,700-1,900 per year, is $29,381 and the department has no training or experience requirements, according to its Fire Chief Tom Collins. The Moberly Fire Department pays $22,500 annually for entry-level firefighters and also does not require any training or experience. Moberly's call volume is 900-1,000 per year, according to Moberly Fire Chief Robert L. Creed.
McLeod said the $8.65 rate qualifies certain firefighters in the department for food stamps and government assistance, adding that firefighters work 400 hours more than other city employees. Many firefighters are "tired of struggling," McLeod said.
"A lot of our guys work 2-3 jobs to be able to survive," he said.
A 10 percent pay bump, he said, would bring all firefighters to the $27-28,000 yearly range. McLeod said the firefighters he represents want to be able to support a family on their fire pay alone.
After five years working for the fire department, McLeod said he makes $28,500. The starting pay has remained the same for the past 15 years, he said.
"We all know nothing is the same as it was 15 years ago - the cost of things," McLeod said.
City Administrator Bill Johnson said he had also offered to reopen negotiations with the union in May or June 2015, while giving them the five percent increase for the 2015 year. Because the union declined that and presented the city with a new contract, Johnson said the union won't automatically receive the five percent increase outlined in the 2015 budget and they will have to negotiate for raises.
Johnson said all city employees would be able to notice pay differences if comparing Fulton's pay to that of other cities.
"This is Fulton. We are not other areas of the state," Johnson said. "If they (firefighters) want to make what they make in St. Louis, they can leave when they want (but) I'm not encouraging that at all. They know what their job paid when they took it. Every city employee could leave if their focus is money. But if you want a job in Fulton, Missouri, there's a current salary schedule for what we pay."
McLeod said the Fulton Fire Department is a "stepping stone" for young firefighters who leave after gaining experience. The department loses about two firefighters per year, and while pay isn't the sole factor in their departures, it's a major one, McLeod said.
According to Fulton's Human Resources Director Michelle Maupin, a firefighter opening attracts about 50 applicants. An electric lineman typically receives about 20, she added.
"There's a lot of people that know our salary and would be happy to work for the City of Fulton," Johnson said.
McLeod said he hopes to have negotiations complete by January, but Johnson believes the process will take months. Part of the problem, Johnson said, is that the 2015 budget is finalized.
Johnson said he hopes to come to an agreement, but it must be a win-win for the city and union.
Another meeting is set for Tuesday to determine what is new, different and the same in the proposed union-city agreement.
"In my opinion, the past several years we've had a positive relationship with the fire union, but with the number of changes to the agreement they're requiring, I believe it's necessary to review the entire document rather than only consider the items they want changed," Johnson said. "It's been long enough; there's things in there the city would like to change as well."
Johnson said the city's labor attorney will review the agreement before it is finalized.
Pay information for fire departments
Fulton Fire Department
Number of firefighters: 22, excluding chief and assistant chief
Coverage area: 12.4 square miles
Population: more than 12,000
Call volume: 1,400 per year
Funded by: City of Fulton
Schedule: work 24 hours and take 48 hours off
Benefits: health, life and lagers retirement
*Probationary firefighter (firefighter 1 certification required): $8.20 per hour minimum (20,467.20 yearly); $12.30 per hour maximum ($30,700.80)
*Firefighter (firefighter 1 and 2 required before second anniversary): $8.65 per hour minimum ($21,590.40); $12.85 per hour maximum ($32,073.60). Pay increases to $9.05 per hour ($22,588.80 yearly) after six months of service, according to Fulton's Human Resources Director Michelle Maupin.
*Probationary fire engineer: $8.98 per hour minimum ($22,414.08); $14.28 per hour maximum ($35,642.88)
*Engineer: $9.55 per hour minimum ($23,836.80); $14.50 per hour maximum ($36,192)
*Yearly pay figures based on 48-hour work week, 52-week year and does not take taxes into account
Source: Fulton Professional Firefighters Union President Merit McLeod and the union's current contract with the city of Fulton
Warrenton Fire District
Number of firefighters: 6 (not EMT or medic certified)
Coverage area: 125 square miles
Population: about 17,000
Call volume: 600 per year
Funded by: personal and real estate property tax
Schedule: 24 hours shifts; 120 hours worked in 14 days
Benefits: health, dental, 457B retirement program and 24-hour/$50,000 life insurance policy
Probationary/entry level: $32,323
After one year: $34,299
After two years: $35,921
After three years: $37,585
After four years: $41,184
After five years: $42,432
Probationary captain: $45,926
Engineer 1: $52,041
Source: Warrenton Fire Chief Mike Owenby
Marshall Fire Department
Number of firefighters: 22
Coverage area: 10 square miles of city of Marshall and Saline County
Population: more than 13,000
Call volume: 450 per year
Funded by: City of Marshall
Schedule: work 24 hours and take 48 hours off
Benefits: health through the city, lagers retirement and no life insurance offered except a small policy the city pays for
Entry level (no training or experience): $35,274
First-class firefighter (two years experience with fire academy and EMT training and 18 months of service): $38,311
Engineer: $40,706
Captain: $44,794
Battalion chief: $47,480
Source: Marshall Fire Department staff
Moberly Fire Department
Number of firefighters: 26
Coverage area: 14 square miles
Population: just under 14,000
Call volume: 900-1,000 per year
Funded by: City of Moberly
Schedule: work 24 hours and take 48 hours off
Benefits: paid health insurance, life and lagers retirement
Entry level (no training or experience): $22,500;
Pay increases based on training such as hazmat, firefighter 1 and 2 and EMT certification. Chief Robert L. Creed said three firefighters were hired in August, coming in with hazmat, firefighter 1 and 2 and EMT certification. Their salary is just more than $24,000, he said.
Source: Moberly Fire Chief Robert L. Creed
Kirksville Fire Department
Coverage area: more than 14 square miles
Population: more than 17,000
Call volume: 1,700-1,900 per year
Funded by: City of Kirksville
Schedule: work 24 hours and take 48 hours off
Benefits: health, life and lagers retirement
Entry (no certification or experience): $29,381
Firefighter 2 and EMT certification: $31,438
Captain: $33,638
Department chief: $49,493
Source: Kirksville Fire Chief Tom Collins