Santa Ana : Pay Raises Approved for Fire Department
About 240 Fire Department employees will receive 8% raises retroactive to Jan. 1 and another 7% Nov. 1, according to the terms of a contract approved by the City Council this week.
The firefighters and civilian department employees have been without a contract since the previous pact expired last July. The two-year contract, which runs until June 30, 1987, will boost the city’s payroll by an estimated $684,000 for the first year and $1.28 million for the second.
The contract also calls for a newly formed Fire Department labor-management committee to discuss several issues, including possible drug screening for all employees. Firemen’s Benevolent Assn. President Steve Critchfield said he has no objections to the plan, adding that the department has never had any disciplinary action for drug or alcohol abuse on the job.
The contract covers 14 job classifications with separate pay rates. With the 8% raise, monthly pay for those employees classified as firefighters will range from $2,160 to $2,626.
Critchfield said city officials presented the plan as part of a move to encourage all city employee groups to undergo drug screening. He said the Fire Department would be willing to set up “a model program” for other departments to follow. The committee would also discuss qualifications and assignments in the paramedic corps and a physical-fitness program.
City officials also agreed to pay any increase in health-insurance costs during the first year and 50% of costs in the second year.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
