MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Things are looking up for City of Memphis employees trying to get a raise.
A City Council Committee voted on a 2% increase for firefighters today.
However, they’ve got a few more fires to put out at City Hall before the deal is done.
There’s hope for Memphis Firefighters and now other city employees wanting a raise from their bosses at City Hall.
A City Council Impasse Committee awarded them the 2% raise they asked for.
“We put our position on. The city put their position on and we actually got listened to by this committee,” said Thomas Malone with the Memphis Fire Association.
The 3 member committee made up of Councilmen Jim Strickland, Harold Collins and Kemp Conrad voted for the raise.
The city started off offering 0%, then sources said they upped it to .5%.
“What they offered us in two meetings we voted 100% unanimous to vote it down,” said Malone.
The raise for firefighters isn’t a done deal.
The full City Council must approve the impasse recommendation.
The City Administration said the money just wasn’t there.
Malone said that was not true.
He’s seen them give it away.
“A little bit more than less than what a private entrepreneur asked for to renovate the Chisca Hotel and we’re going to work for ours,” said Malone.
Other City Unions are scheduled to also go before impasse committees.
“Nothing is a done deal until the council receives it as a body and makes a decision and this may very well have set the stage for other committees to accept a pay increase or a raise. We’ll have to see,” said Council member Wanda Halbert, chair whose on the Police Impasse Committee.
If approved firefighters 2% raise would take effect July 2016.
The city said it can’t afford a pay raise because the costs of insurance is going up and they must fund the pension plan.
