CFD chief says low salaries have affected morale, staffing
Columbia Fire Department Chief Randy White said a lack of pay raises and problems with staffing have had a negative affect on morale.
“That definitely has an affect on morale,” White told ABC 17 News Monday night. “You feel like you’re not getting valued for your time and experience in the position.”
White made his remarks after the Columbia Firefighters’ union gave a presentation to the Columbia City Council ahead of the collective bargaining process in the new year.
The union is asking for $5.7 million in new funds to solve pay and staffing issues. Travis Gregory, president of Columbia Professional Firefighters, said that’s how much it would take to move every employee to the appropriate pay grade and add 60 new firefighters to the department. He said those additional 60 firefighters are what’s required to meet National Protection Association Standards. Right now, the department only has two openings.
When compared to similar cities, the Columbia Fire Department trails behind in salaries. Additionally, because of the city’s pay scale, some employees who have only been with the department a few years may be making more than someone who has been there for several years, Gregory explained.
“When you get promoted to certain level and you may stay in that level for a long period of time, if there’s no other increase in pay, the bottom of the scale catches up with you,” White said.
The union proposed a new, hybrid pay plan. It would give all employees a set raise based on years of service. It would also be 50 percent performance-based.
White said the Columbia Fire Department has lost employees to other departments like St. Charles because “they obviously pay more.” He said, right now, there is an issue with employee satisfaction.
“Do you feel valued working for the city of Columbia? Do you feel valued working for the city of Columbia Fire Department? If you do, then that comes across in your work,” White said.
White said there is a tremendous problem citywide with employee compensation. The city’s pay policy calls for salaries to be “externally competitive.” The City Council approved a $15 minimum wage for city workers in its 2019 budget.
