Firefighters march on City Hall

WXIA TV

November 9, 2004
Reported by: Valerie Hoff

Angry Atlanta firefighters took to the steps of City Hall Tuesday to denounce their one-percent pay raise. They call the increase an insult compared to what their police officer counterparts are earning.

"I've been with the City of Atlanta Fire Department for a little more than five years and a rookie police officer starts off with more than I’m making now," said firefighter Christopher McDougal.

Hundreds of firefighters from around the country, in town for a conference, joined in the march.

“I think this is incredible. I can’t see [it not] turning some heads and getting the attention of the City Council and the mayor here in Atlanta,” said Michael Glynn, a firefighter from San Antonio.

Mayor Shirley Franklin told the rally, “I respectfully disagree that that is something I can do today, so I apologize if you are unhappy about that.”

“We really feel betrayed because the mayor campaigned on the platform that she supported parity, that she supported straightening our pension out,” said David Rhodes, the firefighters’ union president.

Earlier, inside City Hall, Franklin told 11Alive News she’s doing the best that she can with what she was left to work with.

“We can’t do it all at once. I wish I could,” Franklin told 11Alive's Jon Shirek. “But, I found this government almost out of money completely, almost bankrupt. And for those reasons we’re going to have to take this a step at a time.”

Whether serious about it or not, an estimated 100 Atlanta firefighters showed up at the City of Atlanta Police Department Monday to apply for jobs. Even if only a calculated gesture, the firefighters made a point of showing how they made less than even a rookie police officer.

McDougal said, “They start off with approximately $2,000 more than we do, they have retroactive in their pension, so they get their three percent and this shows us no respect."

Firefighters’ tempers are flaring over getting a one-percent pay raise in the city’s 2005 budget. Police officers in contrast, will receive a four-percent pay hike. Officers’ higher increase is based on a study that shows Atlanta cops earn about 40 percent less than officers in other similar-sized American cities.

The police union rejects any suggestion that Mayor Franklin should recall any of the police officers’ hard fought raise in order to benefit another group.

Atlanta police Sgt. Michael Kreher, of the Atlanta Police Union, said, "What we want her to realize is that she’s doing it on the backs of the employees, so I would say no, you don’t reduce what you’ve already promised, what you’ve already committed to. You increase everybody."

Mayor Franklin says she appreciates the day-to-day bravery shown by both services, but says there’s been no study of firefighters’ salaries compared to other cities. Until she gets one, Mayor Franklin says she won’t be able to squeeze any more blood out of the already dried up turnip she inherited from the recently indicted former Mayor Bill Campbell.

"This money belongs to the people of Atlanta and I have to be able to make recommendations that are founded on research and fact, not just what people think it is,” the mayor said.

Atlanta firefighters are also planning to march on City Hall next Monday, when the City Council will be considering next year’s budget.

Atlanta police Chief Richard Pennington had requested an eight-percent pay raise for his officers, but been told by Franklin that four percent would be all the city budget could allot for 2005.

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