Our City government likes to claim things as fact to the public, and are “fearful we are venturing down a path of confusion”. We would like to demystify the City’s offer to the firefighters. We feel that it is important that we talk about some of the claims made by city executives and help you piece together the information.
During the City Commission meeting Reese Goad stated that “the most number of employees is the Firefighter rank” and that those individuals are the front line workers and “ride on the engines to fight the fires.” While Firefighters only make up 33% of the department most, if not all, would like to be promoted past that rank. What is the point of being promoted if the pay doesn’t change much? Furthermore, all ranks are the frontline employees and all play critical roles in fire suppression. We are all better together and there is no better illustration of this than the team work that happens on the scene of a Fire, car accident, or health emergency.
Reese Goad also boldly stated that the percentage raise being offered is 8.6% total to firefighter rank, even doubling down at one point. This is twisting the numbers to fit a narrative that is false. The City has offered starting firefighters a 4% raise to the starting pay, 2.5% pension contribution reduction, and a one time non-recurring bonus of $1,000 dollars. The only benefit here that changes starting pay is the 4% raise. The rest does not affect the base pay, and the $1,000 bonus is non-recurring. While a pension contribution reduction is nice for take home pay for the Firefighters, it does not add any to their base pay. Bottom line is this: the only raise they are receiving is 4% which is less than general employees.
At the same meeting, Commissioner Curtis Richardson explained he is from a union family. He went on to also state how they (the commissioners) “don’t take a vote on anything unless it comes back to us after they have reached impasse and the arbitrator brings a recommendation to us. Along the way we don’t take a vote.” This is also false. This contract alone went to an executive session twice in which Curtis Richardson failed to appear at the first session and voted “no” at the second session. While they will have to appear and vote on the arbitrator’s recommendation, they could have also voted sooner and without the recommendation from the arbitrator.
Finally, Reese Goad incorrectly answered Curtis Richardson about why there is a one year contract. This was a mutually beneficial agreement for both the city and the firefighters. Both parties agreed to the one year contract in order to stagger the police and fire department negotiations. This was not something the City just “obliged” to do because the Firefighters requested it.
We are all better and louder when we stand together. Together we have more information. Keep talking to each other, to them, and then we vote.
