PHOTO: After nearly three months at the negotiation table, the city of Pocatello and Pocatello Firefighters Union have reached an agreement.
Many of the issues on the negotiation table were ironed out without any problems. However, the issue of compensation packages for firefighters has been a contentious issue that up until Tuesday’s negotiation meeting had been at a near impasse.
Pocatello firefighters entered negotiations with an average salary around 15% less than that of their counterparts in comparable cities, according to union president Andy Moldenhauer. Those comparisons include Caldwell, Chubbuck, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls, the cities used by Pocatello as comparisons during recent budget meetings.