Alabama City Boosts Essential City Workers’ Pay By 5 Percent in Response to Coronavirus

The Birmingham, Alabama City Council has approved a temporary 5 percent pay increase, or “hazard pay” for approximately 2,000 essential city workers. The increase, which is expected to cost the city approximately $500,000, is designed to help firefighters and other essential city workers operating on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to firefighters, police officers and correctional workers, public works employees, and several dozen other essential city workers will receive the temporary pay increase. The city is hopeful that federal funds will eventually reimburse the city for the costs associated with the “hazard pay” plan. Here is more on the story from WVTM NBC News Channel 13.