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Tampa Council OKs Pay Increases For Firefighters

Tribune photo by JIM REED

An overflow crowd watches a TV feed of the Tampa City Council as it comes to terms on pay increases for firefighters.

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 22, 2008

Updated: 08/22/2008 03:38 pm

TAMPA - The city council has given Tampa firefighters most of the pay increase they were seeking.

The council voted unanimously to give firefighters an average of 5 percent merit increases and 4 percent cost of living increases. Mayor Pam Iorio had been lobbying against the hefty raise during tough budget times, but the firefighters union said the increases were necessary to keep good employees from leaving for other fire departments.

The union also said that more than half of the firefighters would receive much smaller raises because they were already at the top of their salary caps.

Today's vote came before a standing-room only crowd of mostly firefighters. Many members of the overflow crowd wore yellow stickers saying, "Support Tampa firefighters," or yellow T-shirts printed with, "I'd die for you. What's that worth?"

The city had proposed a 6.5 percent pay increase for firefighters.

Starting firefighters make about $34,000. The maximum salary for a veteran firefighter is about $63,000.

Iorio, when making her budget presentation to council members earlier this month, said the council should go along with the administration's proposal because it "will set the tone for future negotiations" with the other unions.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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