Stamford Reaches Contract Agreements With Police, Firefighters

Information via city of Stamford

STAMFORD, CT — Stamford has reached contract agreements with the Stamford Police Association and the Stamford Professional Fire Fighters Association, according to a news release from the city. Both agreements were approved by the Board of Representatives at a special meeting on Nov. 15.

The four-year successor agreement between the city and the Stamford Police Association includes a wage increase of 3.17 percent starting July 1, 2023, and through July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025.

Additional terms include the limitation of a retiree’s ability to opt in and opt out of medical insurance to one time.

The previous contract between the city and the Stamford Professional Firefighters Association expired four years ago in June 2019. The six-year successor agreement includes a wage increase of 3.17 percent starting July 1, 2023, through July 1, 2024.

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, employees will be switching to the State Partnership Medical Insurance Plan, contributing a higher percentage of the cost, and resulting in over $2 million in savings to the city by fiscal year 2024-2025.

Additionally, it increases the number of deputy chiefs on duty to two, including a deputy chief aide, which will reduce response times to critical incidents and improve geographical coverage of all fire and rescue operations throughout the city.

"I am pleased that the city of Stamford has reached a contract settlement with our police officers and firefighters," said Mayor Caroline Simmons in a news release. "This agreement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our first responders who put their lives on the line every day to keep our community safe. I am committed to ensuring that our first responders have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively and this contract settlement is a step in the right direction. I want to thank our police officers and firefighters for their unwavering commitment to our community and I look forward to continuing to work with them to keep Stamford safe."

Stamford Director of Public Safety, Health and Welfare Lou DeRbeis said the contracts "recognize the dedication of the men and women of the Stamford Police and Fire Departments and underscore the need to enhance public safety as our city continues to grow."

Stamford Police Association President David O'Meara said the SPA appreciates the city acknowledging the hard work and commitment of police officers to Stamford.

"We would like to thank Mayor Simmons and her administration for what we believe is a fair contract for our membership," O'Meara added in a news release.

Paul Anderson, the president of the Stamford Professional Firefighters Association Local 786, said the agreement "shows serious commitment to public safety by both the Simmons administration and the Stamford Board of Representatives."

"At this point in Stamford’s development, the addition of a second on-duty deputy chief is crucial and both residents and firefighters will be safer for it," he added.

“I am very pleased to see that the Mayor and the Stamford Firefighters have reached an agreement on a new contract," noted Peter Brown, president of the Uniformed Professional Firefighters Association of Connecticut, in a news release.

"This deal will greatly benefit the people of Stamford by improving fire protection through additional staffing. It will also provide the men and women of the Stamford Fire Department well-deserved increases to their wages and benefits, while also addressing their health and safety concerns," Brown added.