Boston Firefighters Secure $90M Deal, 8.5% Raise Over Four Years
The Boston firefighters’ union announced it has ratified a $90 million collective bargaining agreement with the city, delivering an 8.5% pay raise over four years.
The Boston firefighters’ union announced it has ratified a $90 million collective bargaining agreement with the city, delivering an 8.5% pay raise over four years.
“Local 718 is very proud of this contract that we were able to negotiate with the City of Boston,” Boston Firefighters Local 718 President Sam Dillon told the Boston Herald on Tuesday, Dec. 30. “It recognizes the services and sacrifices that our firefighters deliver every single day, as well as taking care of their families.”
According to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, the new contract covers retroactive pay from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2028. A 2.5% wage increase for each firefighter will occur in the first year, with 2% increases in each of the next three years.
The new agreement requires City Council approval in 2026 to take effect and features base salary increases at five, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service to reward longevity. It also increases line-of-duty death benefits for active firefighters who die during the course of their work for the Boston Fire Department.
According to the Herald, the deal also includes modernization efforts, such as a new electronic detail application, expanded paid details for retirees younger than 75, and a higher paid detail rate throughout the contract term.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Marine Unit becomes a specialized operation, mandating specific training for its members.
Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke told the Herald in a statement that the contract “not only strengthens the operational structure of the fire department, [but] it also fairly compensates our firefighters who come to work every day and serve the residents of our city with professionalism and respect.”
The mayor’s office said Wu’s administration has already settled 64 union contracts during her first term. She prepares to begin a second term on Jan. 5.
