Huntington firefighters will receive $415,000 in back pay owed them because the city erred in the way it paid firefighters for holidays.
The City Council approved the settlement Monday night putting an end to a two-year-old dispute over the holiday pay, the West Virginia Record reported.
In future, firefighters who have no duty hours on a holiday will be provided an additional 12 hours of paid time off over and above what they now receive.
A firefighter who ends his shift at 7 a.m. on the holiday will receive an additional 5 hours of paid time off over and above what they now receive under the current contract.
Those who start their shift at 7 a.m. on a holiday will be paid the rate agreed to in bargaining.
The settlement allowed both sides a win, since the city initially had wanted to make up any errors with additional time off.
The West Virginia Supreme Court is currently considering another case about firefighter holiday pay brought by Morgantown firefighters. The City of Huntington and the firefighters agreed to be governed by that decision, whenever it comes.
