Midland Professional Firefighters Association ‘disappointed’ with City Council's discussion on firefighter’s compensation

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Midland Fire Department | Midland Times

Midland’s Professional Firefighters Association voiced dissatisfaction with the City Council’s meeting on July 23. Jesse Martinez, President of the Professional Firefighters Association of Midland (PFAM), praised the council for taking steps to secure pension benefits but was disappointed over the limited discussion of overall firefighter compensation.

"Our members applaud the Mayor and City Council for taking steps to secure the earned pension benefits and deferred compensation of our members,” said Martinez. “This action was long overdue and puts us on a path for securing firefighters' retirement security through a viable pension system. However, we are disappointed that discussion about firefighters’ total compensation did not go further.”

During the city council meeting, Midland City Manager Tommy Gonzalez presented data on pension benefits compared to other cities, where a comparison regarding “the comparatively low salaries of Midland firefighters was absent.” Martinez said that the city has access to the salaries from the Gallagher Consultants it hired in 2023.

Martinez emphasized the need for transparency in conveying the complete financial picture to the community. “Midland’s historically low pay scales, when coupled with calculations based on a supposedly ‘high benefit’ structure, paint an inaccurate picture for Midland residents,” he said. “They deserve to know the full story concerning the total compensation for first responders."

“We will be forced to weigh cuts on benefits that attempt to paper over the low salaries we receive – 25% less than the average pay of firefighters at 25 other departments according to the City’s own study.”  In a special city council meeting held on June 18 to discuss the Firemen’s Relief and Retirement Fund, Midland firefighters raised concerns about their pay, stating that they earn less than firefighters in nearby cities.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which was voted on during the city council meeting, must be presented to the Board of Trustees of the Midland Firemen’s Relief and Retirement Fund, approved by their actuary, and then voted on by firefighters, according to the Texas Local Fire Fighters’ Retirement Act.

“We look forward to a comprehensive discussion about firefighter salaries when we go to a vote considering the pension fund's recommendations,” said Martinez. “All Midland Firefighters remain committed to serving Midland.”

According to its website, the Professional Firefighters Association of Midland (PFAM) is Local 4405 of the International Association of Professional Fire Fighters, representing paid full-time firefighters and emergency medical services in the United States and Canada. Local 4405 represents roughly 90% of the firefighters in the Midland Fire Department. The association has been pursuing a resolution for the firefighters’ pension fund since 2021.