A battle over low wages between the James Island Public Service District and its fire fighters has ended with all ranks receiving minimum $10,000 salary increases.
“We are pleased that the public service district has created this new pay scale,” James Island Local 5385 President Sean Foulois said. “It will immediately help our members better afford the Charleston area’s high cost of living. And it will have the long-term effect of improving our ability to recruit and retain fire fighters.”
Most Charleston-area fire fighters make a starting salary of $50,000. Before the new pay scale was enacted, new James Island fire fighters were making $36,000. As reported by several local news outlets, including WCSC and WCBD, the James Island Fire Department often had vacancies and seasoned fire fighters were leaving for higher-paying departments.
South Carolina’s state statute does not allow for collective bargaining, but Local 5385 members were determined to have their voices heard. So, members raised concerns as the public service district – a tax district providing fire and rescue services, wastewater management, and trash collection – was considering its 2025 budget.
“South Carolina is a tough environment for unions. Sometimes you have to work twice as hard to get a positive result, but it can be done,” Foulois said. “You just have to trust the process.”
Foulois is a long-time union leader who previously served as Springfield, VT Local 2750 president and Professional Fire Fighters of Vermont executive vice president.
The Local 5385 leadership wrote to the district board formally requesting a meeting to discuss the issue. Foulois noted there had not been a tax increase to raise fire fighter salaries in nearly a decade, nor had there been a cost-of-living adjustment since 2016.
Meanwhile, Local 5385 – with assistance from IAFF resources like a Municipal Financial Analysis (MFA) – gathered data on the district’s finances. The MFA showed the district could afford to raise fire fighter salaries without increasing taxes on the citizens.
The James Island fire fighters and IAFF Strategic Initiatives staff took their findings and message to the public, generating significant local media coverage.
Ultimately, the district board agreed to a new pay scale in mid-July, resulting in at least a $10,000 increase in salary for all ranks. Starting fire fighter salaries will rise from $36,000 to $49,234. Engineers will now make more than $61,000, and captains will make more than $66,000.
“I want to congratulate Local 5385 President Foulois and his team on this big win,”
12th District Vice President Walt Dix said. “This wage issue had created a significant recruitment and retention issue. If the department had been unable to keep fire fighters on staff, they may have been forced to close a station and/or increase response times. The IAFF was proud to provide its resources to help resolve this issue.”
