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City, Firefighters Reach Tentative Agreement to Boost Pay and Add Paramedic Rescue Unit
By Staff Writer
Published on Mon, Nov 10, 2025
The City of Long Beach has reached a tentative three-year labor agreement with the Long Beach Firefighters Association that increases compensation for firefighters and adds new resources aimed at improving emergency response times.
For the first time in the City’s history, the agreement addresses both employee pay and operational capacity, adding a full-time Paramedic Rescue unit to meet growing demand for emergency medical services.
It follows an agreement recently reached with City lifeguards.
Under the proposed contract, which covers the period from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2028, firefighters would receive general salary increases of 2% in the first year, 3% in the second and 4% in the third. The agreement also increases skill pay for eligible Firefighter II positions and establishes mandatory employee contributions to Retired Health Savings Accounts beginning Oct. 3, 2026.
The association represents 411 sworn employees. The total estimated cost of the three-year agreement is $18.8 million from the General Fund Group and $19 million from All Funds.
The deal was reached after seven meetings between City and union representatives since May. Members of the Firefighters Association voted to ratify the agreement on Oct. 25. The proposal is scheduled to go before the Long Beach City Council for consideration and public discussion on Nov. 11.
