House Money VS Personal Money

“House Money vs. Paychecks: St. George Firefighters Face Unfair Fight in Court Battle”

Baton Rouge, LA — As the legal fight between the St. George Professional Firefighters Association Local 4524 and the St. George Fire Protection District escalates, a troubling imbalance has emerged — one that cuts to the heart of fairness, accountability, and public trust.

While the Fire Chief and Fire Board are using taxpayer dollars — public funds intended for the safety and service of the community — to finance their legal strategy, the firefighters themselves are forced to pay out of pocket to defend their right to fair compensation.

“These are the same firefighters who rush into burning buildings, rescue families, and protect this community every day,” said a Local 4524 representative. “Yet when they stand up for fairness and equality under the law, they’re forced to drain their personal savings — while the department’s leadership signs off on lawyers with a blank public checkbook.”

A Battle of Unequal Resources

The lawsuit, which centers on wage disparities and alleged violations of state law, has drawn attention not only for its scale — over $30 million in potential backpay liabilities — but also for the stark contrast in how each side is funding its legal team.

• Fire Chief and Fire Board: Funded by taxpayer dollars, with legal expenses embedded in the department’s operational budget.

• Local 4524 Firefighters: Funding their legal defense with personal savings, union dues, and donations — with no access to public resources.

“This is a fight we never wanted, but were forced into,” the union added. “We’re not just fighting for ourselves — we’re fighting for the future of the fire service, and for every firefighter who deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.”

A Call for Oversight and Public Support

The union is now calling on the public, the East Baton Rouge Metro Council, and oversight bodies to demand transparency, accountability, and fairness.

“This is your fire department. These are your tax dollars. And these are your firefighters,” the union’s statement continued. “The people of Baton Rouge deserve to know why their money is being used to sue their own first responders — and they deserve a leadership that works for, not against, the public interest.”