Firefighters ask for educational incentive pay

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Speakers came out to Wilmington City Council tonight in support of educational incentive pay for the Wilmington Fire Department.

Representatives from the Wilmington Professional Firefighters Association say the WFD currently requires higher education for promotions of captain and above, yet remains the only department in the city that requires a degree but does not provide financial compensation.

“We currently don’t receive benefits, education incentives for having a two year or four year degree, and recently these degrees have become a requirement to be promoted to the captain rank and battalion chief,” said Rodney Lester with the Wilmington Professional Firefighters Association. “So we’re just here to try to get the message out to city council that we’d like to be included in some of the incentives that they offer for their other employees.”

“All other departments in this city do offer this type of education incentive whether it be a dedicated incentive program like what the police department has or whether it’s tied in to the overall salary,” Lester said.

During this public hearing, former New Hanover County Board of Education Chairman Steve Bilzi also spoke to the council in support of educational incentive pay.

“It’s become important that we, that the fire department, is now data driven and it’s no longer what it used to be,” Bilzi said. “And these fellows have to have incredible education in order to keep up with the modern fire department standards, so it’s important that we make sure that their education is compensated.”