LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A new agreement has been reached between Metro Louisville and EMS/MetroSafe unions and members of those unions will receive immediate pay increases.

What You Need To Know

  • Mayor Greg Fischer announced agreements with Teamsters local 783 and IBEW local 369

  • MetroSafe and EMS members of those unions will receive an immediate 8% pay raise

  • The side-letter agreement takes effect Jan. 1, 2022 and employees will see the impact on their checks this month

Mayor Greg Fischer's office announced EMS and MetroSafe leadership and Teamsters union local 783 and IBEW local 369 reached the agreement Monday.

The new agreement includes an 8% pay raise for all members of those unions — in addition to the 2% raise they received in July 2021. The agreement states all future yearly raises guaranteed by the unions' existing contracts will remain. Changes in this side-letter agreement between Metro Louisville and the unions is effective Jan. 1, 2022 and members should see the changes on the paycheck they receive at the end of the month. 

“The employees of EMS and MetroSafe are public safety heroes in our city, and they deserve our respect and our thanks for the hard work they’re doing in very trying times,” the Mayor said. “These new agreements also reflect our commitment to recruiting more talent to help the men and women who continue to proudly serve in the face of unprecedented vacancies. There is no doubt that staffing shortages are a national problem, across all industry sectors, but our focus is on Louisville — and ensuring the vital, round-the-clock public services that our residents expect and deserve.”

Louisville Metro Director of Emergency Services, Jody Meiman, said, "The work our agency does is vital to the safety of our community and our employees are the backbone of that work, and it is my hope these steps will show our continued support to each and every employee.”

Local Teamsters President John Stovall and Recording Secretary Justin Scharrer released this statement about the agreement: "The monetary wage increase negotiated between the parties are essential for the professional services they provide daily to this community. We hope this assists in retaining current employees, recruiting future employees and to fill the vacancies that currently exist. With the support of the Director of Emergency Services, the persistence and relentless advocation of the Union, we were able to secure the funds the employees deserve. We are thankful the Mayor and his Administration recognized the need to increase wages for these hardworking families and we are happy we could reach a mutual agreement on this important endeavor.”

Edward J. Devine, Business Representative for IBEW Local 369, said: "The wage enhancement that Executive Director of Louisville Metro Emergency Services Edward J. Meiman is offering our members is definitely a goodwill gesture that shows our members that the City does value the work that they do on a daily basis. It's always nice to be appreciated and it certainly helps financially."

The IBEW contract with Louisville Metro does not expire until this summer, and the Teamsters contracts run until 2023 and 2024, but Mayor Fischer said these immediate raises were deserved and necessary to maintain quality staffing and services. The new agreements also include steps to improve accountability, similar to reforms in the recently approved Louisville Metro Police Department contracts. 

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