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Hernando: Firefighters agree to county pay plan

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Firefighters agree to county pay plan

Union members will get an average 7.8 percent raise. The new wage scale

starts Jan. 1.

By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer

© St. sburg Times

published December 14, 2001

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BROOKSVILLE -- Hernando County firefighters on Thursday accepted the

administration's final pay offer, less than three weeks before the terms are to

take effect.

On average, union members will receive a 7.8 percent raise. Starting pay

for firefighter/EMTs will rise to $25,524, up $2,000, and starting pay for

firefighter/paramedics will become $31,999, up $1,999.

" This arguably brings them closer to the market, " personnel director

Barbara Dupre said of the new wage scale, which takes effect Jan. 1.

Union president Lt. Tony Noble said the membership simply took the best it

could get. The 37-22 vote was closer than it would have been had the county made

a sweeter proposal.

" We were still $20,000 off, and the county wouldn't compromise, " Noble

said. " We had four or six counteroffers, but every time it came back to us, it

was worse and worse. "

The department still has nine vacancies, he noted, and these salaries will

not help the recruiting effort if the neighboring Spring Hill Fire-Rescue

District also has open slots.

" Our starting pay went to $25,500. Spring Hill is at $29,900, " Noble

observed, adding that Spring Hill also offers full family health insurance

benefits and pays better salaries over time. " Yes, we are still going to lose

people. "

He held out hope that an upcoming government salary survey will give the

union bargaining strength when its full contract comes up for review next year.

Dupre said the union will have to negotiate its salaries, and the study will not

simply go into effect.

" But we shouldn't have much heartburn if we implement theirs the way we do

for the county, " she said.

Commissioners are scheduled to ratify the one-year plan at their meeting

Jan. 8.

Past 14 Days December 13, 2001 December 12, 2001 December 11,

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From the Times

Hernando bureau

a.. Health numbers troubling

b.. Shock over slaying confronted

c.. For the kids, by the kids

d.. Firefighters agree to county pay plan

e.. Watering limits should return to once a week

f.. Splashing into the holiday season

g.. Angels take flight

h.. This week

i.. Young Leopards will get learning experience

j.. Around and about