Council approves firefighters’ labor pact pending Prop B renewal; city to consider ballot timing

The Joplin City Council approved on Monday a labor agreement with Joplin Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 59 that, if implemented, would provide a 23% pay increase to union members but is conditioned on a property-sales tax renewal and a pension-funding threshold.

City staff presented the agreement and said the firefighters’ membership has ratified the contract. City Attorney Edwards told council the pay increases are conditioned on two events: a successful renewal of the property-sales tax (commonly referred to in town as Prop B) and achieving a 120% funding level for the police-and-fire pension plan (staff anticipates the latter will occur in 2027). The contract was advanced as an emergency ordinance and passed with eight votes in favor and one abstention (Councilor Koppel abstained because of a conflict involving a relative).

“Both unions expressed to us that in order for them to get behind the passage of a Prop B renewal, they wanted to have contracts in place,” Edwards said. Councilors asked whether the city could get Prop B on the April ballot; staff outlined statutory timeline constraints and recommended discussing timing and outreach in a follow-up work session so council could weigh April versus August placement.

Council discussion touched on long-term compensation commitments, past ad-hoc increases and the city’s compensation philosophy. Several councilors praised public-safety staff and supported the labor agreement in principle while expressing caution about committing multiyear pay schedules before a voter decision on the revenue source.

Council approved the ordinance on an emergency basis (motion carried 8–0–1, with one abstention). Staff said they will work with union leadership and with council on outreach and ballot scheduling.