EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
An Evansville City Councilman, who is also a city firefighter, is calling for equal pay between firefighters and police officers. He's also offering a way to make that happen.
In an email obtained by 14 News, Al Lindsey says he believes the fire chief and assistant chief should take a pay cut bringing their salaries more in line with other firefighters.
"I'm trying to be a positive influence to help our department," said Lindsey.
Evansville City Councilman Al Lindsey says his fellow firefighters don't make as much money as their counterparts on the police force, except for two positions, fire chief and assistant chief.
"The average firefighter, 20 year private as compared to 20 year private on the police department makes a little bit over $2,800 less than they do," Lindsey said.
He says since bringing firefighter pay in line with police officer salary is probably out of the question, he wants both the fire chief and assistant chief's salary to be reduced, brining it more in line with their rank and file.
Lindsey said, "It's not really as much the money as it is that I think it's the right thing to do."
City councilman Jonathan Weaver has read Lindsey's ideas and says there could be several reasons for the difference in pay scales, including schedules.
"The police department is on an eight hour schedule. Where the fire department, they're on what I believe, 24 on and 24 off, maybe three or four days a week and a lot of them have extra jobs on the side because they do have extra time to do extra things," Weaver said.
Lindsey also suggests washing machines and ice machines be installed at all fire stations that currently don't have them. He tells 14 News that using his power as a city council member to make these suggestions about his workplace is not a conflict of interest.
"This is a priority to me and I want it addressed," Lindsey said.
In an e-mail sent to city council members, Fire Chief Mike Connelly says the issue of equal pay was brought to the table for 2013.
He says we are currently working toward an equal compensation plan.
We'll keep you updated on this story.
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