Durham firefighter union chief: Pay raises 'anything but a victory'

During a City Council meeting, Durham first responders learned Tuesday night that they would be getting a pay raise, but a representative of the firefighters union said what the city delivered fell short of what is necessary.

"That was anything but a victory for us," said Jason Davis, president of the Durham Professional Firefighters Local 668.

"We have been asking to be placed in our appropriate steps based on our years of service to the city and within our ranks and that did not happen."

During the public meeting ahead of the budget vote, several firefighters spoke out about the need for better pay, their working conditions and cost-of-living concerns.

"Do you think $14 an hour is enough compensation to show up first to an emergency scene then run across I-85 with a jump bag to start CPR on a 6-month-old infant who had been ejected over the overpass," one firefighter asked.

In the approved budget, all sworn employees will receive a 2% pay structure increase and a 5% pay-for-performance merit system increase for a total increase of 7%. Employees will also receive a $300 end-of-year bonus.

Davis pointed out that firefighters had asked for more.

"We did not get anything extra outside of the proposed budget," he said.

"I implore you to give them the raises and money they deserve," said firefighter supporter Bonita Green.

Green and others attended the meeting in matching T-shirts to show their support for the city's first responders.

"The public does not understand how much firefighters give to a job or how much we as the public rely on them," Green said.

Mayor Elaine O'Neal says these men and women are worth the investment.

"I have always had a great respect for you for all of you and all our city workers," O'Neal said.

Davis said firefighters are not feeling that support and will continue to leave the department.

"I had one resign yesterday – put in his resignation yesterday – and after the vote was taken last night I had a member stop by the firehouse where I was working and inform me that he would be putting in his resignation letter today based off of the vote last night," he said.

The budget also includes funding for a pay study

“Something has to be done to keep our officers here,” said Durham County Fraternal Order of Police spokesman Larry Smith.

Smith said the city’s vacancy rate is shocking.

The city's first quarter crime report showed the Durham Police Department has about 20% vacancy rate.

“I had an officer just recently tell me that the workload and what they're trying to do right now is almost unsustainable,” Smith said.

The Professional Firefighters of Durham union is also pushing for higher salaries, saying it's a public safety issue.

"If you do nothing, there will be more vacancies,” a union spokesperson said at a June 5 Durham City Council meeting. “Please take action now to reduce turnover."

The Durham Fire Department's starting salary in April was $40,682.

Durham police officers receive a starting salary of $42,593 during Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) and Field training, then $46,998 as a certified patrol officer.

Smith said the union believes more should be done.

"Start right now, [and] say we've got a problem,” Smith said. “We're in critical status here, and what can we do to make some changes?"

The budget also includes funds to expand the Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Teams (HEART) program, which sends unarmed first responders to answer 911 calls about quality of life or emotional health issues.

In almost a year of operation, those teams have responded to 6,538 calls, of which zero needed police backup for safety and 1% needed EMS support.