The Chelsea Area Fire Authority (CAFA) Board and the firefighters’ MAFF Local 1889 have agreed to a new 4-year contract.
At CAFA’s Nov. 19 meeting, it was announced that the new contract was approved by union members 11-0 and the CAFA board also unanimously approved the contract.
Included in the contract are pay increases that amount to $17.25 per hour in the first year for entry level firefighters, $17.94 per hour for firefighters who have 1-3 years, and $18.66 per year for firefighters with four or more years on the job.
This means an entry level firefighter will start at $51,577.50 per year, a second level firefighter with 1-3 years will make $53,640 per year and the third level firefighters with four years or more will make $55,793 in the first year of the contract.
Also in the first year of the contract, the three fire lieutenants will make $20.52 per hour while the three captains will make $22.39 per hour.
The contract includes a 3-percent raise in the second year and third years of the contract and a 2-percent raise in the fourth year for all full-time firefighters.
Fire Chief Rob Arbini also updated the CAFA board on the hiring of two additional firefighters that is expected to bring the authority ranks to a total of 12 firefighters plus the chief.
If all goes as planned the two new hires will be onboard by Dec. 16.
With the approval of the new contract, the CAFA board also adopted a $2.18 million 2020 budget, which will be forwarded to the member municipalities for review.
