Council approves firefighters’ contract and related appropriations totaling roughly $18.1 million for FY26; BPS contract items also approved

The Boston City Council approved multiple messages and orders from the mayor to fund collective bargaining agreements for the Boston Fire Department and Boston Public Schools.

At a Committee of the Whole hearing earlier this week the administration’s representatives — including James Williamson (Budget Director), Renee Bushey (Director, Office of Labor Relations), Commissioner Paul Burke (Boston Fire Department), and other department chiefs — described the contract provisions. The firefighter agreements (IAFF Local 718) cover wage increases (a 2.5% base raise in July 2024 and 2% increases in each subsequent fiscal year of the contract term), step and longevity adjustments, and changes to the Transitional Career Awards Program (TCAP) to adjust longevity accrual at specified service milestones.

Councilors commended both the unions and the administration for reaching a negotiated agreement. “This agreement reflects a collective effort. It provides fair compensation, respects the experience and dedication of our firefighters,” Councilor Murphy said before the vote. The council then moved acceptance of the Committee of the Whole report and approved Docket 0124 (a reduction in the reserve for collective bargaining and appropriation), 0125 (supplemental appropriation to the Fire Department), 0126 and 0127 (BPS contract appropriations and related matters) by unanimous roll‑call votes.

Key clarifying details captured during questioning included the department’s recent purchases of three new fire boats and the marine unit staffing requirements; administration witnesses described TCAP as a longstanding program intended to reward length of service and explained the FY26 cost impacts. The BPS dockets reflected a separate negotiated contract for the Boston Association of School Administrators and Supervisors (base wage increases of 2% in September of each fiscal year and new step/degree changes), with estimated multi‑year cost projections shared in committee.

What happens next: The council’s roll calls authorized the supplemental appropriations described in the mayor’s messages; central finance staff will process the transfers and the Fire and BPS human resource offices will implement contract provisions per the schedules in the agreements.