A new two-year contract for Richmond Fire Department members does not include an increase in firefighter base pay.
The city’s Board of Public Works and Safety approved the contract that runs Jan. 1, 2027, through Dec. 31, 2028, during its Nov. 5 meeting. The Richmond Professional Firefighters Local 1408 of the International Association of Firefighters AFL-CIO membership previously passed the contract with 90% approval, said Thomisa Tudor, Richmond’s human resources director.
Firefighter base pay will remain $58,933.35 throughout the contract. Base pay for higher ranks is figured by the firefighter base pay plus a percentage of the base pay. The lowest pay grade, $53,040.02 (90% of base pay), will be for probationary members during 2027. That will increase in 2028 to $55,986.69 (95% of base pay) when a recruit level is added at $53,040.02. A first-class firefighter designation is also added in 2028 at $60,701.35, or base pay plus 3%.
In addition to their base pay, members receive longevity pay, a clothing allowance, stipend compensation for educational degrees and percentage-based compensation for training certifications, with the percentages increasing in 2028.
The contract allows for 75 members: 18 lieutenants, 18 engineers and 39 firefighters. The department also includes the chief, assistant chief, deputy chief of EMS, three battalion chiefs, deputy chief of fire prevention, deputy chief of training, and deputy chief of information and technology.
Police hours
Richmond Police Department received board approval to adjust its contract with the Fraternal Order of Police’s John Hennigar Lodge No. 63, switching patrol shifts from 8 1/2 hours to 10 hours.
After a trial period, 54 of 68 union members approved the change. Patrol officers will now work four consecutive 10-hour days, then have four days off. Three 10-hour shifts each day will overlap two hours at the beginning and end of each shift.
The current two-year contract runs through Dec. 31, 2027.
Street closure
The board approved closing the first block of North Seventh Street from East Main Street to the service alley for installation of a rooftop Verizon Wireless tower at 630 E. Main St.
The road and sidewalk will be closed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 9 and from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 20 to accommodate a large crane. Heights Tower Service Inc. plans to lift equipment to the roof Nov. 9 and remove equipment from the roof Nov. 20.
Software contract
The board approved a three-year contract with 66degrees to renew the city’s Google Workspace Enterprise Standard licensing.
The cost is $60,750 annually for a total of $182,250.
A version of this article appeared in the November 11 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
