Westport's Representative Town Meeting voted 21-0 on Tuesday night to approve a three-year contract with the town's firefighters that provides annual raises of 2.95%, retroactive to July 1, 2025, and running through June 30, 2028.
Westport RTM approves firefighter contract with 2.95% annual raises in unanimous vote
Westport's Representative Town Meeting voted 21-0 on Tuesday night to approve a three-year contract with the town's firefighters that provides annual raises of 2.95%, retroactive to July 1, 2025, and running through June 30, 2028.
Director of Finance Gary Conrad said that, when step increases are included, the contract equals an 11.3% total increase — slightly more than the 11.09% increase represented by the police contract. The agreement will cost the town an additional $2.3 million over its life.
Beyond the pay raises, the contract increases the annual uniform allowance from $850 to $1,075 for firefighters and apparatus supervisors, and to $1,100 for inspectors, lieutenants, and assistant chiefs. It also sets an insurance premium cost share of 17% for this fiscal year and 17.5% for the following year.
The contract does not address pension contributions. According to RTM member Louis Mall, a member of the Employee Compensation and Public Protection committees, the pension agreement and the contract approved Tuesday are two separate contracts, and the town and the firefighters' union remain in arbitration over pension benefits.
Firefighter compensation drew attention in April, when Fire Chief Nicholas Marsan requested $495,615 in additional funding to replace five firefighters who left shortly after starting their jobs. When RTM member Jennifer Johnson asked Marsan at Tuesday's meeting whether the new agreement would improve retention, Marsan said employee retention is a challenge that involves various factors.
The RTM's Employee Compensation, Finance, and Public Protection committees had already voted in favor of the agreement at a joint meeting on Aug. 6. First Selectman Kevin Christie attended Tuesday's Zoom meeting and expressed support for the contract.
- The source does not state which specific factors Marsan cited as contributing to the retention challenge.
- The source does not state the previous base salary or hourly rate for firefighters to which the 2.95% raises will be applied.
- The source does not state the current status or timeline of the pension arbitration between the town and the union.
- The source does not state how the $2.3 million additional cost will be funded or which budget lines it affects.
- The source does not state what portion of union membership voted against the agreement before it was ratified by majority.
Read the original at Westport Journal