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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.
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!
As things currently stand, they are demanding $56.1M in additional spending, which is $16 million more than the City is willing to pay.
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.
Why are the firefighters demanding such incredibly generous pay and benefits?
Because they can.
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