The City of Durham has created an ordinance stating that all city employees shall be paid at least $16.92 per hour, which the City Council has determined is the livable wage. However, the ordinance also states that firefighters are excluded from this minimum hourly wage. 

184 Durham firefighters make less than $16.92/hour, which accounts for roughly 46% of all sworn members. These are not just new recruits—this includes some who have served as city firefighters for over 14 years. Due to low pay, many firefighters must work second jobs just to get by and support their families. It is disgraceful that these civil servants are being left behind by the city they help protect. 

Why does City Council claim that firefighters are exempt from the city-wide minimum wage? They have argued that firefighters work more hours, so end up with a salary equivalent to a 40-hour work week at the livable wage. However, this devalues firefighter’s time, leaving them no choice but to work longer hours for less pay. 

Durham firefighters work 56 hours per week, more than any other group employed by the city. They work 24-hour shifts away from their families and loved ones so that they can respond to emergencies and protect Durham’s residents. They regularly miss holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries, and have been on the front-lines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Firefighters show up for our community daily to save lives and keep our beautiful city safe – they work hard for us and deserve fair compensation for the dangerous work that they do. Tell Mayor Schewel and City Council to pay our firefighters the livable wage they deserve!

Can you sign for them? #LivableWageForDurhamFireFighters

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