BREAKING: The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Agrees To New Contract With Firefighters
The Ron DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) has reached an agreement with union firefighters on a new labor contract.
The deal ends a five-year stalemate that saw firefighters grow increasingly frustrated with the Disney-appointed Reedy Creek Improvement District, prior to that entity’s dissolution.
The three-year agreement will help staffing shortages by increasing starting pay for firefighters and paramedics.
Increased Pay To Help With Staffing
“Bringing up the base pay for all our positions is going to help with recruitment,” said Aaron Colburn, first vice president of the Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters Association. “There’s a statewide recruitment and retention problem right now.”
Starting pay for first responders will increase from $55,000 to $66,000, according to the contract. The agreement includes a 5% pay bump for about 185 members of the frontline bargaining unit, Colburn said.
Photo Credit: Facebook – Reedy Creek Fire and Rescue Department Emergency Medical Services
The firefighters and first responders have increasingly found themselves aligned with DeSantis in his public feud with Disney after the union had grown increasingly frustrated with their dealings with Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Union officials claimed that understaffing was putting Walt Disney World visitors at risk during medical emergencies that required a rapid response.
Finally- A Deal
Shortly following the creation of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the governor-appointed board was able to reach a new labor contract with first responders, something Disney had been unable to do for years.
After the terms of the contract were leaked by union members, however, the CFTOD backed out of the deal and negotiations resumed.
Photo: Jon Shirey
According to union president Jon Shirey, the union members “shot ourselves in the foot” by releasing the details.
“This contract got into the hands of city and county leaders across the state of Florida,” Shirey wrote. “Glen had been receiving calls left and right yelling at him that he couldn’t sign this agreement. How it was going to screw all of the taxpayers in those areas bc they would have to raise taxes just to be able to recruit and stay even somewhat competitive with the new market.”
Now the deal is done.
Image: Central Florida Tourism Oversight District
Glen Gilzean, the district’s administrator, praised the contract, saying it offers “the best possible compensation” while “still being fiscally responsible.”
The new agreement will take effect the first week of August, and for the first time in years, there will be labor peace between the special district and first responders. A win for both the FTOD and the union.
Photo: Central Florida Urban League
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