NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council approved a new 2023 contract agreement with the local union representing its firefighters during Tuesday’s agenda session.
"We had one formal meeting with them on July 1st and were able to come to a tentative agreement right away," said HR Director Tom Sanders. "The local membership voted on the contract on the 14th, which passed."
Under the new contract, the city will recognize Martin Luther King Day as an official holiday and will increase monthly holiday pay from 8 hours to 8.8 hours. It also calls for an increase in hourly base pay for firefighters to $14.77 per hour. That amounts to an annual base salary of $43,080. The increase amounts to about 2%. Captains will also see an increase on anywhere from 3.2% to 9.2%. There will also be a mid-year adjustment for merit pay to make up for shortfalls in such pay in 2019 and 2021. Mayor Jade Piros de Carvalho was pleased with the result and thanked leadership from both sides for their work.
"I've noticed a marked difference in the negotiation process with the IAFF since the arrival of Chief Beer a few years ago and I think that is a real testament to your leadership, Chief, and also, Troy, to yours," Piros de Carvalho said. The IAFF are really willing to negotiate in good faith and work collaboratively with the city."
Sanders said they think they may have set a record this year for the speed of negotiations.
"Before the budget passes, imagine that," Piros de Carvalho said. Knowing what's going in the budget before it passes, that's always good."
In 2021, the contract for 2022 was not finalized until October.