Beaumont firefighters have approved a new contract with the city after nearly 10 months of negotiations, union officials announced Thursday.
The International Association of Fire Fighters Local 399 voted to approve the contract between July 29 and July 31, according to Jeff Nesome, president of the Firefighters Union in Beaumont. The agreement now awaits final approval from the Beaumont City Council, which is scheduled to vote on Tuesday.
The prolonged negotiations began in early October 2024 between the City of Beaumont and Local 399. After four months of talks, the parties reached a preliminary agreement by the end of January 2025, but key issues remained unresolved as of July 11. Union members initially rejected the contract terms in a vote held in late February. However, renewed negotiations in July led to an agreement that satisfied both parties. Nesome expressed optimism about the city council’s upcoming vote, noting that city officials worked closely with the union to reach the current agreement.
“The only thing left is for the city to approve it on Tuesday, but it seems possible since the city manager and Attorney worked with Local 399 to make the contract approved today,” he said.
The contract addresses firefighter benefits and pay scales, though specific financial details were not immediately available. The agreement would end one of the longest contract negotiations in recent memory for Beaumont’s fire department.
If approved by the City Council, the contract would take effect once the mayor, city manager and the union president sign the contract, providing clarity for the department’s 200-plus firefighters who have worked without a current agreement for months.
Source: ABC12 News