San Juan approves two-year pay increases in firefighters’ bargaining agreement

The City Commission of San Juan approved a two-year collective bargaining agreement with the San Juan Professional Firefighters Association following three negotiation sessions between city representatives and the association.

A city representative told the commission that the association initially proposed an 18% increase over two years (described in the packet as “18% for 2 years”), and that the parties negotiated to a final agreement of 7% for each year (14% total across two years). The representative described other terms in the agreement as including education pay, certification pay, and assignment pay increases; longevity pay was described as unchanged. The staff presentation noted the agreement accounts for probationary firefighters as part of retention efforts.

Legal counsel participated in negotiations and reviewed the final language. The city’s legal reviewer told the commission she had reviewed the agreement and was “recommending as to form,” while terms were negotiated by the directors and representatives involved. The staff representative identified participants in the negotiations as “myself, Ms. Correro, Legal, Leroy (no longer with us), and our city secretary.”

Commissioners moved to approve the agreement; the motion carried by voice vote. The meeting record does not include a roll-call vote tally in the transcript. Staff said certain assignment-pay lines are not yet filled and will be implemented as positions are assigned.

The agreement is intended to improve firefighter retention by addressing pay for probationary staff and expanding certain assignment and certification pay categories. The commission did not specify an effective date in the public discussion; staff indicated the agreement resulted from recent negotiations and recommended approval.