Raleigh police, firefighters calling for pay hikes

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Union officials for the police and fire departments in Raleigh are calling for a 15 percent pay increase over the next two years for public safety employees.

Media outlets report that the Raleigh Police Protective Association and the Raleigh Professional Fire Fighters Association held a news conference outside City Hall on Tuesday to announce that they will be jointly filing their proposals.

Officials say their pay is neither competitive with other departments of comparable size across the country nor competitive with some smaller local departments.

Police union spokesman Rick Armstrong says City Manager Ruffin Hall's proposed budget includes a 3 percent to 3.5 percent increase for public safety employees. The police association is requesting a 5 percent to 10 percent increase for all police officers.

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