Newsom Vetoes Pay Raise for California Firefighters

Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has turned down a bipartisan proposal aimed at increasing salaries for California firefighters, nearly nine months after the state’s most devastating wildfire ravaged Los Angeles.

Newsom’s decision, announced on Friday, means that Cal Fire wages will remain far below those of certain local fire departments, with proposed increases ranging from 11% to 29% being denied.

The current base salary for firefighters in California sits at about $54,122 annually, while their counterparts in Los Angeles start with at least $85,315.

This veto follows a prolonged struggle by firefighters for higher pay, which garnered substantial support from state lawmakers.

Newsom justified his veto by stating that the bill would impose “substantial cost pressure” on the state’s budget and would bypass the collective bargaining process, as explained in his letter.

Members of the Cal Fire union expressed disappointment and frustration. One member commented on the timing, noting it was particularly disheartening since the veto coincided with the governor’s honoring six fallen firefighters on a memorial wall.

The proposed legislation would have established a pay floor for Cal Fire personnel within 15% of the pay averaged across 20 local departments.

Initial estimates from a state Legislature analysis suggested that implementing the pay increase could cost between $373 million and $699 million in the first year.

The state agency argues that Cal Fire personnel typically earn more in overtime compared to local firefighters.

A report by the California Department of Human Resources in 2023 indicated that Cal Fire salaries fell short by 87.5% compared to the 20 surveyed local fire departments. However, this gap narrowed to 16.7% when other wages and benefits were considered.

Interestingly, the report pointed out that state firefighters are scheduled for more hours—156 days each year compared to 121 days for local firefighters.

But, as many in the firefighting community argue, relying on overtime doesn’t alleviate the pressing need for better pay.

The text of the bill noted that California’s escalating wildfires have “put overworked firefighters at risk.” This concern isn’t lost on Newsom, who recently initiated a recruiting campaign for Cal Fire, launching a new website aimed at attracting more Californians to join the effort.