GARDEN GROVE : 5.5% Pay Hike OKd for City Firefighters

A divided City Council narrowly approved a new one-year contract for the city’s firefighters this week that includes an average pay increase of 5.5%.

About 5% of the pay raise is retroactive to Jan. 5 while the remainder is effective in September, according to the terms of new contract. The 109-member Fire Department will also get a 1.5% raise in monthly medical benefits.

Councilmen J. Tilman Williams and Robert F. Dinsen voted against the new contract on Tuesday, saying that it comes at a bad time in light of the city’s prospective $6-million budget deficit.

“I did vote for a police (pay) raise, not knowing then how difficult our financial situation would be,” Dinsen said. “I do think our firemen should be well paid, and I think they are well paid.”

Councilman Frank Kessler said he voted in favor of the pay increase because the firefighters union had negotiated the agreement “in good faith.” Kessler said it was “ludicrous” for the firefighters to be the only union to be working without a valid contract.

“This (contract) gets them close to what they ought to be paid,” said Councilman Mark Leyes. “It’s important that we settle this now so we can get on with the business of the city.”

The raise means that by September, city firefighters will be paid between $2,515 and $3,090 a month with a median salary of $2,803. Monthly pay for fire engineers will be between $2,831 and $3,441 a month with a median salary of $3,112.

The city’s paramedics will receive from $2,869 to $3,484 a month with a median salary of $3,161 and fire captains will get between $3,273 and $3,981 a month with a median salary of $3,610.

“All communities are faced with tough economic times right now, but I strongly feel that we need to maintain a strong and professional work force,” said Fire Chief Lon Cahill.