The Irving City Council unanimously approved Thursday a collective bargaining agreement between the city and its firefighters鈥� union last night.
After months of negotiations, has a new outline of employment terms and conditions for its members, including staffing, hours and work conditions.
The biggest item in the agreement, according to Union President Brian Becker, is a new staffing standard that will eventually place four people aboard all fire trucks and engines.
鈥淲e're able to perform rescues quicker and improve outcomes on medical emergencies,鈥� Becker said of the provision. 鈥淸This] makes it safer for us and the citizens.鈥�
Becker said the agreement was a milestone for the city, which the union voted in favor of 鈥渙verwhelmingly鈥� in the lead-up to the council鈥檚 decision.
Becker told 四虎影院 the union kept taxpayers in mind when pushing for changes like the four-person staffing model, which will be implemented over a four-year period.
鈥淲e made a promise to the voters in November that we didn't want to raise taxes,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, we worked within the confines of the budget that was presented to council and we were able to make it work.鈥�
A said yes last year to allowing the firefighters鈥� union to collectively bargain. The agreement approved this week by both parties will last four years, with an option to extend it by an additional year if a new agreement has not been negotiated before September of 2029.
Per state law, firefighters remain .
Other agreement highlights include the creation of a labor management committee to improve communications between the union and department administration, and a new contract grievance procedure. The maximum age limit for beginner firefighters is also being raised from 35 to 40 years.
According to a recruiter, the Irving Fire Department has 425 full-time employees. Becker said the union represents over 99% of them.
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