Orleans firefighters contract includes pay raises

Jul. 14--ORLEANS -- A contract between the town and the Orleans Permanent Firefighters Association Local 2675 has closed the gap between the town's firefighters and their colleagues in neighboring communities.

"It has made us competitive with surrounding fire departments," Orleans Fire Chief Geof Deering said.

The contract, which runs from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2022, marks a step up in terms of salary and stipends, but also adds positions to the department's ranks.

"Probably the biggest change is in salary, which increases over the course of the contract for all positions," Deering said.

Orleans offers a base salary and firefighter steps 1 through 7, based on the number of years served in the department. There are stipends paid out annually for EMT and paramedic certifications and duties undertaken by a training officer and infectious control officer.

From fiscal 2016 to 2018, there were 2% annual increases for fire department staff. Firefighters' pay ranged from a starting salary of $46,215 to $64,921 for a firefighter with seven years on the job in fiscal 2018.

The new contract calls for a 5.2% salary increase July 1, 2019, which will be retroactively paid as the contract was finalized and approved by voters last month.

A 4% salary increase was effective July 1, 2020, and there will be a 3% increase July 1, 2021.

There are also increases in stipends related to EMT and paramedic certification over the course of the new contract.

The fiscal 2018 EMT/paramedic stipends ranged from $3,350 to $5,850 annually, depending on certification level. Those stipends increased by $250 annually effective July 1, 2019, by $500 annually effective July 1, 2020, and will increase by $1,000 annually effective July 1, 2021.

Firefighters get stipends for course credits related to fire science and how long they have stayed with the department.

In preparing the contract, town and union negotiators looked at their neighbors in Brewster, Chatham, Eastham and Harwich for comparison.

"We were behind when the process started," Deering said. "By no means did we jump ahead of any department or go to the top of the scale."

"Both sides recognized we couldn't get it all done in one contract negotiation session," Select Board Chairman Kevin Galligan said. "We've made a commitment to work together and make further adjustments in the next round of contracts."

Eastham is in the process of negotiating with its firefighters. Chatham has nine steps for its firefighters but will cut those steps back to six by 2021.

Salaries range from $53,214 to $68,453 in fiscal 2020 in Chatham. Firefighters in Chatham also earn stipends for EMT/paramedic certification, which are included in base pay for overtime and retirement calculations. Chatham issues stipends for education and longevity as well.

The Orleans contract calls for the addition of four permanent lieutenant positions beginning July 1, 2021. Deering says the addition is more in line with fire department rankings nationally, and will increase the levels of safety in emergency situations.

The revised contract is an important tool for the recruitment and retention of firefighters in Orleans. It comes at a time where there is a wave of retirements across the Cape, and a national shortage of paramedics, Deering said.

"It's hard to recruit entry level employees," he said. "We're trying to keep people here by making the pay competitive."

Orleans requires its firefighters to live within seven miles or 15 minutes of town. That's because the department relies on callbacks to staff ambulances and cover the station during busy times.

The high cost of living coupled with median home prices that range upward of $800,000 in Orleans make hiring for positions difficult.

"It's not inexpensive to live here," Deering said. "Compensating them is important. We need to have that resource available."

The job comes with its own hazards. Fighting fires, rescuing accident victims, transporting the sick and injured and caring for them en route the 20-plus mile trek to Cape Cod Hospital have plenty of risks.

In calendar year 2018, Orleans firefighters responded to 2,502 calls, 1,763 of which were EMS-related. The department responded to 154 hazardous-condition events, 43 fires, 143 service calls, 19 severe incidents and 10 special incidents that year, according to statistics compiled by the Massachusetts Fire Incident Reporting System.

This year, town meeting voters also approved funding $400,000 in HVAC improvements for the fire station, a step meant as a temporary measure to improve air quality at the station.

The job is as much a lifestyle as it is a career. Orleans firefighters work 24 hours on, 24 hours off and 24 hours on, followed by five days off.

Firefighters are required to complete mandatory training, maintain certifications and respond to call backs, especially during the busy summer months.

Because their fire training academy costs are so high, they must pay back portions ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 of it if they leave their positions within three years of completion. Reimbursement portions for paramedic training are even higher.

Deering called the contract a means of drawing in firefighter recruits, investing in their training and keeping them for a long time.

"The pay is an investment for a 30-year career, hopefully," Deering said. "People demand the services we provide."

Galligan was pleased that voters unanimously supported both the fire and police collective bargaining agreements at town meeting. "Of all the things we do, including big capital projects, people matter so much to me," he said.

Follow Denise Coffey on Twitter: @DeniseCoffeyCCT.

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