Firefighters slated for latest pay raises

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Mayor Terry Hartwick signed a new Memorandum of Understanding Tuesday with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 35 that will see city firefighters receive pay raises over the next two years, including a straight 5% increase in 2025.

The signing ceremony took place at the new North Little Rock Station 8 located next to Burns Park, where Hartwick was joined by fire chief Gerald Tucker and Local 35 President Brent Treadaway.

The Memorandum of Understanding was voted on and approved by members of IAFF Local 35.

“When the tornado came through March 31 these guys were working 12 (hours) on, 12 off,” Hartwick said. “It kept the city safe and protected, so I can’t say enough about how much I appreciate all the firemen in our city.”

The mayor added that “we work hard together. You can’t give them what they’re worth. Though on the other hand, I’ll make them the highest paid I can.”

Tucker, who has been with the Fire Department for 33 years, has been involved in the last three negotiations over a contract.

“I think it’s great,” Tucker said. “This was the best negotiation we’ve ever had with the union. Everybody compromised, but they got what they wanted.”

Treadaway, who has been president of the Local 35 since September, said the “whole negotiation process went well.”

“There was no tension in the room like years past,” Treadaway said. “The mayor worked with us, the chief of staff worked with us, (chief financial officer Ember Strange) worked great with us. It was just as smooth as it could be.”

When asked what caused past tension, Treadaway said it was “Hard to explain, really. But this mayor right here has been good to us.”

“A lot of that was different personalities,” Tucker said.

As a result of agreement all nine levels of firefighters, from beginning level to Top Captain will see increases effective Jan. 6.

• Beginning Firefighters — $38,595 to $40,750.

• Firefighter I — $41,353 to $43,250.

• Firefighter II — $44,110 to $46,000.

• Firefighter III — $46,866 to $49,500.

• Firefighter IV — $55,137 to $58,750.

• Beginning Lieutenant — $57,148 to $61,250.

• Top Lieutenant — $60,155 to $63,500.

• Beginning Captain — $62,136 to $65,500.

• Top Captain — $69,040 to $73,000.

Also included in the agreement is an increase in food allowance per month from $120 to $180.

Longevity bonuses will increase from $6 to $8 a month for each full year of service effective Jan. 1, 2025.

There is an increase in the career development pay for an associate’s degree ($1,464 per year), bachelor’s degree ($2,328 per year), master’s degree ($2,616 per year) and a paramedic certificate that is valid in the state of Arkansas ($2,328 per year).

Employees are eligible for educational incentive pay after the successful completion of one year of employment.

Bi-lingual incentive pay is also a new addition.

Any employee who is certified in a foreign language and/ or American Sign Language and speaks proficient English will be compensated $3,000 per year paid at the rate of $125 over 24 pay periods.

A Lateral Transfer Pay Program was added, meaning newly hired lateral hires (firefighters who are certified by the state of Arkansas, or whose out-of-state certification is recognized by Arkansas) and who come from a municipal fire department with a service population of 30% or more of the service population of the city, will receive credit for every year of firefighting experience with a department with the minimum required service population.

Years of service will be considered to start from the date of employment, or from the date of certification, whichever is later.

Firefighter IV, or four years or more experience, will be the maximum entry-level a newly hired firefighter can receive based on the criteria.