Polk County firefighters would drop from a 56-hour workweek to a 42-hour workweek under a new three-year labor contract that now needs two votes to become real.
County officials met Sept. 30 with representatives of the Polk County Professional Firefighters I.A.F.F. Local 3531 to discuss the agreement, which includes terms to add a fourth shift no later than Oct. 1, 2027, according to Polk County Government.
The contract covers firefighters from entry-level positions through battalion chiefs. If members and the Polk County Board of County Commissioners both ratify it, it will remain in effect through Sept. 30, 2029.
What the Fourth Shift Would Change
Polk County Fire Rescue currently runs the traditional three-shift rotation, labeled A, B, and C, built around a 56-hour workweek. Firefighters work 24 hours on duty followed by 48 hours off…