Police officers and firefighters in the District of Columbia would be entitled to cost of living salary adjustments under legislation proposed by Council member Tommy Wells.
The measure, which was introduced Tuesday, would apply the 3 percent adjustments retroactively.
Wells, the chairman of the Council's public safety and judiciary committee, says in a statement that the city's first responders put themselves in harm's way and that it's “outrageous” for the government to not provide them with a basic cost of living adjustment.
He said police officers have worked without a cost of living adjustment for more than six years, and firefighters have been without one for three years.
The officers and firefighters would be entitled to the increases even if a collective bargaining agreement has not been met.
