On Friday, approximately 80% of the Reedy Creek Fire Department’s 185 staff members signed off on a new three-year labor deal. According to union President Jon Shirey via an article in the Orlando Sentinel, the deal paves the way for a “significant bump in starting firefighter pay and benefits, in addition to investment in transportation equipment and addressing safety concerns.”
Roughly 20% of union members did not vote or voted against the new deal. Shirey said the contract has “been in the works for nearly four-and-a-half years, so today certainly feels like a relief, but more still has to occur, so we’re cautiously optimistic.”
Union leadership has said in the past that the department was “increasingly relying on outside agencies to respond to incidents across Disney’s 40-square-mile property.”
If the new contract is ratified, it “will aspire to add 25 firefighters and 12 paramedics within the first year.” The contract would also enhance the existing EMS system by adding two fire rescue vehicles and two ambulances.
In an effort to help recruit more first responders the contract, if ratified, will also increase the starter pay of a firefighter paramedic to $65,000 a year, up from $55,000 a year.
Jon Shirey, Union President
