Press release:

South King Firefighters agreed to wage concession giving back a 4.1% salary increase in an effort to help South King Fire & Rescue maintain fire and emergency medical services for the citizens of Federal Way and Des Moines.

The concessions by South King Firefighters Union, IAFF Local 2024 will save the fire department approximately $500,000. This money can be used to maintain current fire department response times, staffing and equipment.

The department budget has dropped 22% from 2009 due to the economic downturn in local property values requiring the department to reduce 23 operations and staff positions over the past 2 years including a full time aid car operating out of a central Federal Way Fire Station.

"We know the community is struggling to support public safety financially, this was our chance to give back in order to maintain service levels" said Ryan Herrera, President of South King Firefighters Union, Local 2024.

The fire department was informed on January 19th that the firefighters had approved the concession. "I am proud of our firefighters for coming forward with this concession for the second year in a row when they still had another year on an already agreed upon contract" says Fire Chief Al Church.

The concession was approved last week by the Board of Fire Commissioners at South King Fire & Rescue.

The firefighters had previously given up a 2% increase in 2011. All non-contract employees at South King Fire & Rescue have not had any salary increase in the past 2 years as the fire department continues to work hard to decrease expenses.