Deal reached for firefighter raises
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
State and county firefighters can expect four years of 5 percent-a-year pay raises under an arbitration agreement issued last week.
City Human Resources Director Kenneth Nakamatsu said the agreement will cost Hono-lulu an estimated $49.2 million: approximately $4.3 million for the first year, $9.4 million the second, $15 million for the third, and $20.3 million for the fourth.
Nakamatsu said the next step in the process sends the agreement to the state Legislature and county councils for formal approval. Because all of the counties and the state were a part of the arbitration process, it is expected to be approved, he said.
On O'ahu, the Hawai'i Fire Fighters Association scheduled special membership meetings for next week to describe the new agreement. The meetings will be at 6 p.m. Monday and Thursday at the IBEW meeting hall, 2305 S. Beretania St.
Firefighters union president Bobby Lee said his members are happy with what he sees as a "fair and reasonable agreement."
Lee said, "I think it's a good contract. It's win-win for everybody."
He praised the government employers for the agreement. "I appreciate the hard work of the governor and the four mayors in working with us the whole way," Lee said.
Lee said the employers and union had negotiated for more than a year, until it went into arbitration last month.
With compounding, he said the pay raise will amount to 21.5 percent for firefighters and a little more for those who are still receiving step increases. Those are based on years of service, where every three years you move one step up until you reach 22 years.
That means a mid-career firefighter with 10 to 13 years experience who now earns $48,336 a year would see that rise to $61,128 based on one step increase and the across-the-board raise.
Lee said the union represents 1,800 active duty members but rises to 2,600 including retirees. That includes county firefighters from O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i and the Big Island and state airport firefighters as well.
Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
