ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Professional Firefighters Union President Andre Perez told Channel 9's Julie Salomone that some of their most experienced members have quit the fire department to find better paying jobs.
"We’ve had people leave for the city of Orlando, Reedy Creek,and Ocoee just to name a few," said Andre Perez.
Nearly 40 firefighters have quit this year; Perez says that’s a record number.
"When we are losing the people of experience we lose the people that train the new people," said Perez.
The starting base salary for Orange County firefighters is $39,000 a year. City of Orlando firefighters start off at $46,242 per year.
"As of right now we've become a stepping stone to other departments," said Perez.
Thirty-seven new firefighters are going through orientation right now to replace some of those who have left.
According to Orange County it cost about $26,000 to hire a firefighter/EMT. That cost includes things like a background check, a physical exam and a uniform. It will cost the county nearly $1 million for those new hires.
"If we don't maintain the people that we have, if we don’t maintain a proper pay scale proper wages or fair wages, then ultimately it’s going to cost the county and citizens in the long run," said Perez.
An Orange County spokesperson told Salomone that over the past two years the county has tried to come up with a contract to give raises to firefighters. They said the union has not accepted their offers.
The spokesperson said both parties are trying to resolve their differences to give firefighters a much-deserved raise.
WFTV
