ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Firefighters in St. Johns County are making another push to reduce their work hours, and they will be back at the negotiating table Wednesday with county leaders.
The St. Johns County Firefighters Union said current staffing levels and mandatory overtime are pushing first responders to the brink — and now they’re hoping a new work schedule will bring relief.
RELATED | Burned Out: St. Johns County Fire Union pushes for healthier work-life balance
Wednesday’s meeting is part of an ongoing effort to reduce firefighter workweeks from 56 hours to 42 hours.
“Throughout the state and throughout the country, everyone is switching to this. Every single week, departments are announcing they are moving to this. SO if departments all over are able to do it, I know we can as well,” said Dave Stevens, president of the St. Johns County Firefighters Union.
Stevens also said reducing work hours will help reduce injuries and accidents.
“This will save firefighters’ lives,” said Stevens.
Currently, many local firefighters are working 24-hour shifts with mandatory overtime, sometimes causing 48-hour shifts with little downtime. Stevens said the schedule — combined with the county’s population growth and rising emergency call volume — is causing serious fatigue.
Nearly $5M for recruitment
In the county’s newly passed budget, roughly $4.9 million is set aside for firefighter recruitment and retention. The union says those funds could help support the proposed schedule change.
“Those dollars can go into what we need for year one to start the process of the 42-hour work week,” Stevens said.
While contract negotiations aren’t limited by what’s in the budget, the union believes the funding opens a path forward.
Firefighters offer to forgo raises
To help cover costs, Stevens told News4JAX reporter Briana Brownlee that firefighters are even offering to give up scheduled raises.
“We are actually offering to forgo any cost-of-living increase for the next two years to help the taxpayers fund the 42-hour work week,” Stevens said.
That means firefighters would not receive the 7% pay raise recently approved for all county employees.
Starting pay for a firefighter in St. Johns County is currently $17.65 per hour, or roughly $52,000 annually — and that would remain unchanged under the proposed schedule.
“This isn’t about raises. It’s about health and safety,” Stevens said.
News4JAX will continue to follow developments from the negotiation process and provide updates as more information becomes available.