Since January of 2022, promotions within the St. Louis City Fire Department have been on hold, making over a dozen firefighters serve in leadership positions in an acting capacity without the proper pay and eventually prompting them to file a lawsuit. Judge Joseph Whyte, in a New Year's Eve ruling, sided with the firefighters against the City.
"There's room for backpay and benefits," Secretary Treasurer St. Louis for Firefighters Local 73 David Rodriguez tells KMOX "which we believe would include the promotions and seniority that would go along with that."
Rodriguez says they understand this ruling to mean the Department can finally begin to promote firefighters.
"The moratorium on promotions is no longer in place is our understanding. Which means the City would be free to promote and make these promotions off of the new list."
While he says they are still going through the ruling to to fully understand it, Rodriguez says they believe the next steps are working with the city on how those promotions will take place.
How much the city owes is yet to be determined but the Rodriguez says the City should be sitting on it.
"There is a chunk of change that's out there."
Rodriguez tells KMOX they believe this ruling should end the pause on promotions since 2022. He adds morale has been at its lowest level since there were layoffs a decade ago.
"People are ready to move forward and put this behind us and get things going in the right direction."
Rodriguez says the lack of promotions have also contributed to confusion on scenes, without a clear commander in charge in some instances, including two recent events involving mayday calls.
KMOX has reached out to a spokesperson for the City requesting a statement and seeking to know whether they tend to appeal, which could keep those promotions in limbo longer.