RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) -Raleigh firefighters plan on protesting outside city hall Tuesday evening over what they’re calling low pay and a lack of pay raises.

Raleigh firefighters say they’ll begin the protest around 5:30 p.m. and continue up until 7 p.m. when Tuesday night’s city council meeting begins.

Raleigh Firefighters United, a group of over 400 city firefighters, has been protesting for months over pay.

They say many firefighters are leaving to go to other agencies in surrounding areas that pay more.

During the most recent budget process, firefighters and police officers requested seven percent raises.

Council declined that request, giving all city employees merit-based pay raises up to nearly four percent instead.

Council said they’re waiting on the completion of a citywide pay study before making any decisions on raises for first responders.

A CBS North Carolina investigation reveals several city leaders received pay raises without a pay study last year.

“If it’s good enough for us to wait for that pay study then certainly we feel that they should keep their word and everyone should wait for that pay study,” Raleigh firefighter Chris Ferrell said.

One of the group’s representatives is also scheduled to address council during the public hearing portion of Tuesday’s city council meeting.