Residents rally, Fulton City Council votes to raise starting pay of firefighters

On Tuesday, the Fulton City Council voted to raise the salary of starting firefighters to $9.50 an hour, $10 an hour after six months on the department.

This comes after the council voted against a contract that would have given firefighters a 9% raise earlier this month.

Residents rallied outside city hall ahead of the 6:30 p.m. meeting.

Residents urged the city council to reconsider giving Fulton firefighters a raise.

According to numbers from the city, firefighters in Fulton made a starting salary of about $8.65 an hour before Tuesday.

Although the council agreed to increase the starting pay, the Union said it wants to see pay raises across the board for everyone.

Union leaders said this now means a starting firefighter will make about the same as someone who has served in the department for several years.

Multiple residents went before the city council to address the matter.

“It’s just not right,” said Barbara Stassel, grandmother of a Fulton firefighter. “These people need stability from the city, but their families needs stability. They need to pay bills just like the rest of the city does. They have health payments and medical problems and bills. It’s time to pay the firemen.”

“I’m glad to see that it wasn’t just one voice,” said Union leader and Fulton firefighter Todd Gray after Tuesday’s meeting. “I’m glad that the members of the community stood up and spoke and let the council understand that what they are doing is wrong.”

The Fulton Fire Chief was also in attendance, but said he had no comment about what went on at the meeting.