California overhauls firefighter time and attendance policies to address unequal pay
Provisions in the contracts of California firefighters means they often take home more than their bosses, according to the Sacramento Bee. This recently led to a decision to boost pay for managerial positions in an effort to fill vacancies.
"Basically, when you're an assistant chief, you make less money, have more responsibility and work longer hours," Dale Hutchinson, southern region chief of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told the news source.
According to 2010 figures cited by the news source, assistant chiefs took home a median pay of $117,617, as well as an additional $10,877 in recruiting and retention incentives. In comparison, battalion chiefs - the top-tier rank-and-file firefighter position - had an average salary of less than $68,000, augmented by $49,000's worth of compensation for overtime employee attendance.
A total of 34 assistant chiefs in the department will receive the majority of the additional funding. Each will see an annual base pay increase of approximately $22,000.
A recent Press-Enterprise editorial called the additional pay "an expedient, not a solution" and urged the state to address collective bargaining agreements that increased payouts, such as a 2006 time and attendance provision that extended planned overtime from fire season to all year.
"Basically, when you're an assistant chief, you make less money, have more responsibility and work longer hours," Dale Hutchinson, southern region chief of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told the news source.
According to 2010 figures cited by the news source, assistant chiefs took home a median pay of $117,617, as well as an additional $10,877 in recruiting and retention incentives. In comparison, battalion chiefs - the top-tier rank-and-file firefighter position - had an average salary of less than $68,000, augmented by $49,000's worth of compensation for overtime employee attendance.
A total of 34 assistant chiefs in the department will receive the majority of the additional funding. Each will see an annual base pay increase of approximately $22,000.
A recent Press-Enterprise editorial called the additional pay "an expedient, not a solution" and urged the state to address collective bargaining agreements that increased payouts, such as a 2006 time and attendance provision that extended planned overtime from fire season to all year.
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