Representatives for Albany’s fire department said if the city doesn’t fix their pay scale, it’s just wasting taxpayer dollars.
Union members told WALB Investigates, that firefighters were given a choice between getting a city-wide raise or fixing issues with the department scale.
Most chose to correct the scale. The city is finalizing its budget next Tuesday. That means they have an opportunity to put taxpayer money toward fixing the pay scale or perpetuating an issue that’s been going on for decades.
The Albany Fire Department’s current pay scale allows subordinates to make more than their supervisors on a wide spectrum. Often, those supervisors have many more years of experience on the job. “I have an issue that I make more than my superiors,” said Professional Firefighters of Albany Union president, Ronnie Pettiford.