LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville firefighters are going back to the negotiation table after their union voted down a new five-year contract proposed by the city, according to Union President Jeff Taylor.
Taylor said 51% of firefighters voted no and 49% voted yes.
The contract was for a 24% raise that would go into effect over 5 years, retroactive from 2023. It would have been a 7% raise retroactive from 2023, a 5% raise for 2024, a 5% raise for 2025, a 3% raise for 2026 and a 4% raise for 2027.
Their current starting salary is just over $55,000.
Taylor said the firefighters who were against the contract said they didn't like the five-year term.
Firefighters have been working for almost a year on an expired contract with the city. Taylor said they want negotiations to finally get settled, especially after providing life-saving services with the apartment complex fire in NuLu and the collision on the Second Street Bridge.
In March, firefighters rallied in a spot where you could still see the damage from the collision on the bridge.
The union said their main focus is fair pay, but they also hope to advocate on more funding for equipment. Some of which they say are around 15 years old. $100,000 for training was added to the department's funding from the mayor's last budget. Taylor said they hope to increase that.
The union will now go back to bargaining.
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