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Council approves IAFF firefighter labor agreement; salary ordinance updated
Summary
The City Council approved a negotiated IAFF Local 1919 labor agreement that adds Juneteenth as a holiday, tightens return-to-work medical procedures, and adjusts pay scales (average compensation cited near $38.56); council advanced Ordinance Y83 to update the city salary ordinance accordingly.
The Cheney City Council voted Jan. 28 to approve a labor agreement with IAFF Local 1919 and moved an accompanying salary ordinance into final consideration.
Mark, a city staff member presenting the agreement, said the contract adds Juneteenth as a holiday and includes changes to EMS certification and pay classifications intended to make recruitment and retention easier. "We added Juneteenth as a holiday," Mark said, and later summarized the pay outcome: "It comes out to about $38.56, which is just right near the average." He also said the union had already voted in favor of the agreement.
Council members asked procedural questions about return-to-work medical second opinions and whether the city would pay for them; Mark confirmed the city would cover the cost of a neutral second opinion intended to protect employee health and ensure readiness. One council member raised the role of the civil service commission in hiring and promotions; staff said the commission was being reconstituted but that labor-contract negotiation itself is separate from civil service processes.
Following passage of the resolution approving the IAFF contract, the council approved first-reading action on Ordinance Y83 to amend the salary ordinance so the new firefighter wages can take effect. The ordinance text was read in summary form and the council voted to advance the ordinance for final passage.
The council approved the contract and ordinance by voice vote. The contract was presented as a final negotiated agreement; the ordinance update follows as a procedural step to implement the new wages.
