CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Charleston firefighters are calling for higher pay, saying their current wages aren’t enough to keep up with the cost of living in the city they protect.
Firefighters across the city, including those at Station 18 on Daniel Island, work 56-hour weeks, typically including two 24-hour shifts. Compared to a standard 40-hour workweek, that’s an extra 832 hours a year. But they say their pay doesn’t reflect that workload.
The Charleston Firefighters Association says the long hours and lower wages are also making it harder to recruit new hires and retain staff. The group reports that 171 members have voluntarily left the department in the last seven years…