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Council approves four-year firefighters contract with phased pay increases, step reduction
Summary
Los Alamos County Council unanimously approved a collective bargaining agreement with the Los Alamos Firefighters Association that the county said will yield an overall 18% compensation increase over four years and reduces the step schedule for ranks.
Los Alamos County Council unanimously approved on June 24 a four-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the county and the Los Alamos Firefighters Association, local 32-79, that county representatives described as an overall 18% compensation increase over the term and a revision of the step structure for ranks.
County management presenters Sonia Ortiz and Javier (Javier/Javier) Anderson summarized the agreement during the meeting. "Overall, this is an 18% increase over 4 years," Anderson said, and explained the negotiated change reduces the number of steps in the pay structure (from the prior 25-step scheme to fewer steps by rank) to address retention and to resolve "leapfrogging" issues that affected morale when recently promoted firefighters were paid more than some senior personnel.
Councilors asked about retention and non-salary terms. County presenters said there were no substantive changes to working conditions, benefits or training in the signed agreement; the fiscal impact is front-loaded with larger increases in the first year, then a smaller structural increase the following year, and no structural increases forecast for FY 2028 and FY 2029.
Councilor Reiting moved approval of the agreement and Councilor Neil Clinton seconded. A roll call recorded unanimous approval (7-0). The county manager was directed to execute the agreement on behalf of the county.
