Lemon Grove, Firefighters Work Out Labor Contract

The city finalized its salary and benefits agreement with its firefighters recently with the passing of a memorandum of understanding outlining what the rescuers will get for the next two years, according to the firefighters association.

Brian Hayward, president Lemon Grove Firefighters Local 2728, described the memorandum is complicated and very detailed. The main change for firefighters is that they will get a cost of living increase as of July 1, 2014, he said.

To make this happen, fire staffers agreed to give up what Hayward described as a small parts of the overall benefits package.

“We’ve always been willing to give up some for our city," Hayward said. "The firefighters worked well with the city."

The contract, or MOU, was approved during Lemon Grove's Sept. 3 Council meeting and remains in effect until June 30, 2015. Firefighters were set to receive a 2.5 percent cost of living adjustment, according to the city’s staff report.