San Jose Firefighters Get Their First Pay Raise Since 2008
SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) – For San Jose firefighters, there is finally a clear path ahead when it comes to their future with the city.
"We're very happy to announce that we have a tentative agreement with the city of San Jose," said Jose Guerrero of the San Jose Firefighters.
The four year deal signed Monday at City Hall gives firefighters their first raise in 7 years. Firefighters will get a 14 percent increase between now and 2018 and may reverse the trend of firefighters going to other cities.
"The huge significance is this provides stability," Guerrero said. "The big thing that we wanted to do is make sure that firefighters don't continue to leave city service."
The relationship between firefighters and the City of San Jose has been strained for years, because of the lack of a contract and budget cutbacks forcing staffing shortages and even the closure of fire stations. But changes in the economy, City Hall and union leadership helped break through the bitter feelings.
"What we saw this year from the fire union leadership was a real strong sentiment to working constructively to finding a way to be able to restore pay that our firefighters deserve and doing it within our means," Mayor Sam Liccardo said. "And I think as a result, we were able to reach an agreement faster than we were with any of our 11 bargaining units."