Families of Florida firefighters facing a pay cut protested the decision Monday.
A group of children and spouses of firefighters organized by the Hialeah Firefighters Union marched from a fire station to City Hall, carrying signs and wearing T-shirts against the cut, WPLG-TV reports. A monthly salary decrease of around $500, as well as changes to other benefits, has been proposed by the city.
Hialeah firefighters contend they are among the lowest paid firefighters in South Florida and the state. The group also was upset that the cuts were proposed after the 18th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"On the day after 9/11, when most of these first responders should have been celebrated, all of our firefighters got pay cuts, and they are getting a lot of things taken away from them, including health insurance that affects all of us and these children," Jacqueline Gazzola, a firefighter's wife, told WPLG.
Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez said city pensions are the reason behind the pay decrease. Last year, police and municipal employees agreed to pension changes, but Hialeah's firefighters did not.
"I'm not going to raise taxes, which is what they are pretty much asking of the citizens of Hialeah to keep improving their pensions. We have negotiated for 3 ½ years, and they really haven't given much, and we hope we can get back to the table and continue negotiations," the mayor told WPLG.
During the protest, firefighters and their families told Hialeah residents to show their support by wearing red at Tuesday's city commission meeting, the TV station added.
