plea to Osceola County staff for a better working contract. It now has one to take it through September 2022. FILE PHOTO" width="715" height="420" />plea to Osceola County staff for a better working contract. It now has one to take it through September 2022. FILE PHOTO" width="715" height="420" />
In September, the Osceola Professional Firefighters Association Local #3284 made a plea to Osceola County staff for a better working contract. It now has one to take it through September 2022. FILE PHOTO
The Osceola Professional Firefighters Association Local #3284, operating under the extension of an old contract for over two years, finally has a new one with Osceola County.
County Commissioners approved the new collective bargaining agreement at Monday’s meeting. It is retroactively effective from Oct. 1, 2019 and runs through Sept. 30, 2022, meaning the two sides will begin negotiating a new deal next year. But this agreement resolves what has been an ongoing contract impasse, and eliminates the need for a special hearing on the matter.
Firefighters will get a new pay structure through the end of this year, including a retroactive pay increase of 3.5 percent back to the last fiscal year, and another 3.5 percent raise for the current fiscal year. This year’s pay also includes a one-time $2,500 lump sum hazardous duty bonus payment.
As part of this deal, the County is able to have union members on the current health insurance rates and included in the County’s drug and alcoholfree workplace policy.
A representative from the fire union could not be reached for comment for this story by press time. At a September meeting regarding the fiscal year 2021-22 county budget, Osceola County Firefighters union President Adam Seithel made an impassioned plea for more resources for an outfit that had seen numerous employees resign during a time that the average number of calls in a 24-hour period were increasing.
“Negotiations are always about compromise, but I think all parties involved in this agreement can walk away feeling their efforts resulted in a fair and equitable outcome,” said County Commission Chairman Brandon Arrington. “For the public, they can rest easy knowing that our first-responders are being fairly compensated while being held to the highest of standards in representing Osceola County.”
County officials reiterated their commitment to its fire rescue division, noting funds allocated for the new Austin Tindal Fire Station, which is scheduled to break ground in early 2022, and budgeted funds for two more stations – one in Poinciana and another at Calypso Cay near West U.S. 192 and County Road 535. The county also spends money annually on tools and gear.
Also at Monday’s meeting, Arrington and Viviana Janer were renominated to their posts as Commission Chair and Vice Chair. Arrington is the first Chairman to serve back-to-back years since Ken Shipley in 2007-08.
“I’m honored and humbled that the board has the confidence to select me once again to chair the County Commission,” Arrington said. “We remain focused on the future and I will do my best to continue leading us toward a better tomorrow. We’ve learned so much about the grit of our community over the last two years – and I’m confident that good things await in the new year.”
