Polk County firefighters voted in favor of a new two-year contract Wednesday that offered wage and benefit increases, the union said.
The tentative contract must now gain approval from the County Commission in a vote anticipated at its next regularly scheduled meeting on July 25.
Members of the International Association of Firefighters Union 3531 voted on the proposed contract from Monday to Wednesday when the polling ended and showed 182 votes in favor to five against.
Commissioners are expected to approve the contract, according to Commission Chair George Lindsey.
IAFF 3531 Vice President Jon Hall characterized the contracts as “a very fair agreement and with “a reasonable pay compensation” earlier this week.
Nearly all firefighters and paramedics will see their pay adjusted upward with passage of the labor agreement, but mandatory overtime was not addressed as the rank and file had hoped.
The new contract would address pay compression, which has been blamed for the department losing experienced firefighters for better opportunities elsewhere.
Near US 98 and Smith LanePolk County buys land just north of Bartow to replace Highland City fire station
With passage, the contract calls for $15.96 per hour for new hires, and paramedics would get an additional $4.55 per hour.
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