Kentucky high court rules that cities must pay millions to firefighters
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August 30, 2011
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky: The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled Thursday that municipalities across the state must pay firefighters a higher overtime rate than previously mandated.[1] The ruling affirms that municipal governments are subject to state wage and hour laws, and that governmental agencies can be sued for back pay.
The Kentucky Labor Cabinet sets overtime rates for firefighters. A 2007 ruling by the Kentucky Court of Appeals increased the rate at which cities would have to compensate overtime pay for firefighters. Even though cities had followed the guidelines in place at the time, the case made them liable for a retroactive increase in overtime pay and benefits.[2] The high court's ruling gives the go-ahead to the Kentucky Labor Cabinet to pursue almost 20 pending cases designed to make municipalities pay back overtime and benefits. The combined price tag for Kentucky cities is estimated to be between 25 and 32 million dollars.[1]
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