DeSantis appointees reach deal with Disney World's firefighters, capping years of negotiations
The board of Walt Disney World’s governing district now filled with Gov. Ron DeSantis appointees has approved a contract for its firefighters, ending years of contentious negotiations
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — After years of contentious negotiations, the board of Walt Disney World's governing district now made up of Gov. Ron DeSantis appointees approved a contract for its firefighters on Wednesday and also proposed reducing property taxes.
The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted unanimously to approve the three-year contract that covers 200 firefighters and paramedics in the Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters' Association.
The contract, among other provisions, would increase wages by 5%, including raising the starting annual wage for firefighter and paramedics from $55,000 to $66,000. It also would provide $5,000 signing bonuses for workers with three or more years working for the department and $2,500 bonuses for everyone else.
“This issue has been around for some time ... and there have been some contentious negotiations,” Martin Garcia, chairman of the oversight district's board, said at a meeting. “We feel this is a fair, generous and fiscally responsible agreement.”
