The City of El Paso is facing an extremely serious financial challenge from Local 51, representing around 900 firefighters.
We all love our firefighters but they are already very well compensated.
95 Fire Department employees were paid more than $100,000 as of March 2025, with the Fire Chief earning $239,340. They earn more than most tenured associate professors at UTEP, who hold doctoral degrees. “Firefighters” without additional titles were paid as much as $80,090.
EXTREME DEMANDS
As of June, the union was demanding $66 million in additional spending over the next four fiscal years, beginning September 1, including a 7.5% pay increase for each of those four years (the current contract includes 3% annual increases).
You read that correctly: a 7.5% pay increase each year for four consecutive years!
Firefighters receive an automatic 5% step increase on their work anniversary regardless of performance until they reach the maximum step in their pay grade.
Firefighters also receive multiple incentives, which they are also demanding be increased, for education, special teams, medical mentoring, and officer field training, among others.
They are also requesting an increase to their “longevity” incentive, which currently pays $5 for each year of service biweekly, to $10 biweekly.
They are also requesting a significant increase in their sick/vacation sellback (which non-uniform employees do not have).
MASSIVE FINANCIAL IMPACT
As things currently stand, they are demanding $56.1M in additional spending, which is $16 million more than the City is willing to pay. They did lower their demand for a 7.5% annual pay increase to 5% annually but are holding firm on their other core wants.
If Local 51 and the City fail to reach an agreement, the question could end up on the November ballot, and if the voters were to approve what the firefighters want, the City could be pushed off a financial cliff.
And of course, the Police contract is up for renewal very soon and that will put additional pressure on the budget, drive our property tax higher, and potentially diminish funding for streets, facilities, public health, and quality of life.
Why are the firefighters demanding such incredibly generous pay and benefits?
Because they can.