Election on the deferral of the January 2010 pay raise since receiving a formal request from the city. This is the final report.

http://www.ktsm.com/news/police-and-firefighters-volunteer-delay-raises

The El Paso Association of Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 51, has agreed by a majority vote of the membership, to assist the City of El Paso with the budget deficit in the upcoming fiscal year. "I am extremely proud that the membership of this association has agreed, by an overwhelming majority, to defer our next pay raise in order to help the city in these hard economic times". "It’s all about doing our part to help the citizens that pay our salary."
Joe Tellez, President of the El Paso Association of Fire Fighters

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El Paso Police, Firefighters Agree to Short-term Pay Freeze

By By David Burge / El Paso Times
Published: Yesterday

EL PASO - Unionized police officers and firefighters agreed today to a short-term pay freeze, and City Council members responded by giving them a standing ovation.

Police gave up a 2 percent raise for four months. But they will receive a separate 2 percent pay hike in June 2010, meaning they will get raises totaling 4 percent during the next calendar year.

Firefighters gave up a 3 percent increase for three months.

In all, the concessions from the two unions will save the city $1.8 million, City Manager Joyce Wilson said.

Seventy-two percent of the firefighters' union and 68 percent of the police union approved the concessions.

See Thursday's El Paso Times for more on this story.

Helping out -- Police and firefighters are doing their part to help the city and taxpayers during these tough economic times. Their unions voted solidly to delay raises for three months. These and other concessions will enable the city to realize $1.8 million in savings during the coming budget year. These concessions were an essential part of city efforts to keep costs down and to keep the new budget in line. Robert Gomez, president of the El Paso Municipal Police Officers Association, said, "I'm really proud of them for doing the right thing." We're also proud of our police and firefighters.