Wichita firefighters, their families and supporters cheered outside of Wichita City Hall on Tuesday after union officials told them that during contract negotiations they immediately rejected the city’s offer for raises. International Association of Fire Fighters Local 135 president Ted Bush said the city’s offer wasn’t even close to bringing firefighter wages up to a rate comparable with other large cities in the region. Union officials said firefighters have started to leave the department in large numbers and pay is a major reason why. The department being short-staffed, they said, is putting additional stress on the remaining firefighters.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
