Durham firefighters could lose their promised merit raises for the third time in seven years as the city works through a tight budget season, the union president told CBS 17. Jason Davis, president of the Professional Firefighters of Durham, said the union met with city officials and came away convinced Durham may not fund the raises this cycle.
Firefighters are promised a 5 percent increase every year until they reach the top of the pay plan. Davis wants both the merit plan and step plan fully funded. "It's not an obscene ask to just have our merit plan, our step plan, fully funded and keep the promises that they made," he said.
The stakes are more than symbolic. Davis said a similar pay squeeze five or six years ago drove firefighters out of the department and into neighboring municipalities. He fears the pattern could repeat. "I'm afraid that if we don't at least fund the merit raises that we're going to see the same thing happen," Davis said.
The department has been running hard. Fire calls surged this spring amid drought conditions, stretching crews across the city. Losing experienced firefighters to better-paying municipalities would deepen that strain.
"We don't feel that appreciation," Davis said. "We always feel like we're normally the first on the chopping block when it comes to tight budget seasons."
Firefighters plan to fill the City Council chamber Monday night when the proposed budget is unveiled. The union is asking Durham residents to show up in support or contact their council representatives directly.