Columbus Division of Fire employees are getting a hefty raise between now and October.
Firefighters will get a 17.5% raise split between three different time periods. Firefighters will first receive a 7.5% raise retroactive to October 2023, then they will get a 5% raise this coming October and another 5% raise in October 2025.
The decision to give firefighters a raise comes after a year of negotiations between the city and Columbus Local 67 of the International Association of Fire Fighters. The two parties hired a state fact finder with the State Employment Relations Board in November to formulate the recommendation.
Union President Steve Stein said the deal shows there is a great working relationship between the city and the firefighters union.
"We never had a doubt that the city and the citizens support their firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, and by extension so does the city council. So, I know it was a big decision. I know they had a lot to think about and talk about, but we had a good feeling that what would be there all along," Stein said.
The city was initially bargaining for a much lower raise, according to the fact finder's report, which was given to WOSU Tuesday. The report said the IAFF sought one wage increase of 10% and two wage increases of 5% each. The city proposed three separate increases of 3% each.
Columbus City Council met in executive session Monday night about the contract. Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin said after the meeting that the proposal is costly, but that firefighters deserve a raise.
City Council didn't have to approve the deal for it to go into effect. The city and the union just didn't have to object to it.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said in a statement the proposal will cost $103 million to implement over the next three years.
Ginther said the city didn't accomplish every goal it wanted to in these negotiations, including trying to modernize Columbus' deployment system and implement a nurse triage program to protect the high quality of fire and EMS response for city residents as Columbus continues to grow.
"The Fact Finder’s recommendation will cost $103 million to implement over the next three years without making the changes and reforms we need to stabilize and sustain services in the future. Those changes will be our top priority in the next round of negotiations," Ginther said.
The city will have to negotiate with the firefighters on a new contract in 2026.
