Vinita council approves IAFF Local 2814 labor agreement for fiscal 2024–25

The Vinita City Council on March 4 approved an agreement with the International Association of Firefighters Local 2814 for fiscal year 2024–25, ending a round of negotiations that city staff said had approached arbitration.

City staff and council members described the agreement as a negotiated compromise that includes pay adjustments to create clearer progression between ranks — firefighter to lieutenant to captain to assistant chief — and provisions intended to reduce instances the city described as potential sick‑leave abuse.

City Administrator Prince told the council that negotiations had been protracted and that counsel had been engaged when arbitration was originally demanded; Prince said the parties reached an agreement that should avoid arbitration. "I find it to be fair to the city, and also supportive of our employees at the same time," Prince said.

Councilman Young, chair of the public safety committee, said he had reviewed the bargaining team's work and endorsed the outcome: "It was a long road this year, but we made it," he said.

A roll-call vote followed a motion by Wofford and a second by Young; councilmembers recorded unanimous approval.

City staff said they would finalize execution of the contract with Local 2814 and provide a signed copy to the council once available.

The council did not discuss specific dollar amounts for the raises in open session; the staff packet provided to council contained a redline copy of the agreement and a summary of negotiated changes, which staff said had been shared with the negotiation team before the meeting.