Brevard County Firefighters Union pushes for more competitive pay

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Brevard County Firefighters Union has come to a stalemate with commissioners over a pay increase the group says the county needs to stay competitive with other departments.

A starting firefighter in Brevard County makes about $11.37 an hour, officials say.

The Orlando Fire Department, by comparison, pays rookie firefighters $20.50 an hour, which makes it difficult to retain employees long-term in Brevard County, Brevard County Firefighters Local 2969 spokesman Lt. Joshua Madsen said.

“We’re far behind many of the other departments,” he said. “We’re not even comparable, let alone competitive, so we can’t draw people here.”

Brevard County Commissioner John Tobia told Channel 9 that the county is proposing a 3-4 percent raise for other general employees.

The hope is that the commission and firefighters’ union can come to an agreement soon, Tobia said.

Madsen just wanted to see changes made for firefighters in the county.

“We’re trying to develop and train them, but just as we get them trained to where we can use them and they’re a resource to our citizens, they’re leaving to other departments,” he said.

If the union and commission cannot overcome the impasse through a mediator, the disagreement will go to a magistrate judge.

In the end, paying firefighters more helps everyone, Madsen said.

Cox Media Group