A 14-year dispute concerning overtime pay for D.C. was resolved Saturday after Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Fire Fighters Association signed an agreement.
The agreement will result in $45 million to be paid to firefighters who worked more than 42 hours per week, dating back to Sept. 23, 2001. The mayor’s office said funds have already been allocated through surplus revenue in fiscal year 2015.
The settlement of the lawsuit will cover more than 3,000 firefighters and was disputed by three previous mayoral administrations.
“I am pleased to announce that the District has resolved the longstanding overtime issue with Local 36, who represents our firefighters and emergency services personnel. Thanks to the hard work of all the parties, we have resolved overtime pay issues for the past, present, and future,” said Bowser. “This settlement helps ensure that the hard-working men and women at DCFEMS are paid for the overtime that they have already worked and earned.”
The majority of the overtime payments are expected to reach affected members by the end of the year. Some will begin to see the back pay as early as Oct. 18.
