The Chicago Tribune recently featured an article about the progress being made on the new contract for Chicago firefighters. According to the proposal, which was endorsed by the City Council Workforce Development and Audit Committee earlier this week, firefighters would receive an 11% raise over the span of five years. This deal has already been approved by the rank-and-file firefighters and emergency medical personnel who are members of Firefighters Union Local 2, and it’s now scheduled for a full council vote next week.

“I can’t think of anyone in America who wouldn’t want that kind of wage increase,” said Alderman Michele Smith, representing the 43rd Ward. “While this will definitely have a significant impact on the city’s finances, it’s much better to have a solid agreement in place than risk strikes or other disruptions. Still, this is quite generous.”

Joseph Franczek, the city’s outside labor attorney, noted that firefighters could have secured even larger raises if the matter had gone to arbitration. As it stands, this marks the smallest set of firefighter wage increases since 1981. “Frankly, I believe this is a very fair agreement,” Franczek stated.

Over the course of the five-year contract, the city expects to incur an additional cost of $80 million. The agreement covers 4,645 firefighters, EMTs, and emergency medical personnel. It is retroactive to June 30, 2012, meaning the city will need to allocate $27.6 million this year for back pay. These funds were already set aside, according to city spokesperson Kelley Quinn.

In previous years, negotiations with the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police typically set the precedent for firefighter union talks. However, this time around, the process was reversed. Talks with the FOP are ongoing and may conclude later this fall, said Joseph Martinico, the city’s top labor negotiator.

Under the new contract, the city plans to upgrade 15 basic life support ambulances to advanced life support units by the beginning of next year, bringing the total number of advanced ambulances to 75 daily. Additionally, many firefighters who are also certified as EMTs will see modest increases in their “incentive” pay, though those hired after January 1st will need to work longer before qualifying for these bonuses.

Retirees aged 55 to 60 who leave service after this year will be required to contribute 2% of their monthly retirement benefits toward health insurance costs until they become eligible for Medicare. Currently, the city covers these expenses entirely.

One notable condition attached to the raises concerns the city’s underfunded police and firefighter pension systems. Should the state implement any new pension reforms that increase firefighter contribution rates beyond the existing 9.125%, the union retains the right to renegotiate the contract regarding wages.

This agreement represents a significant step forward for both the firefighters and the city, balancing financial considerations with the need for stability and improved services.

Thanks, Dan!

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