Indy Firefighters Agree to New Contract

Indianapolis Firefighters will receive a 3 percent raise next year, but it will come six months later than initially expected.

With 83 percent of members voting in favor, the Local 416 Union agreed to a deal with the city Wednesday night for the raises that will take effect July 1 instead of January 1.  

"It wasn't our choice and the city came and asked us if we were open to an extension," said President Mike Reeves.  "We did a lot of research before we sat down with them and said yes."

The deal also calls for a base salary increase each of the following two years.  Firefighters will receive $1,200 the first year and $1,400 the second.

The 1,170 firefighters received a raise this past July, but that also was delayed from January.  

"We understand that we are paid by tax dollars. We can't go out and sell additional cars or go out and sell a bunch of hamburgers.  We have to live on the tax dollars coming in," said Reeves.  "The Mayor has decided where the tax dollars go along with the city county council and we have to live within that. "