Firefighter’s 13th Negotiation For The 3 Year Contract

Earlier today our Firefighters met with the City in the 13th negotiation meeting for the three year contract. Unfortunately CapitalTea is a small organization and our equipment malfunctioned today. We have diagnosed the microphone problem and have a plan in place to prevent future occurrences of this happening again. Thank you for your patience with us. Below we have attempted to provide the highlights from the meeting today.

This meeting was unique and started out with a buzz around Chief Sanders being present. Some of our neighbors wondered if the city was making him negotiate against the fire department employees in an attempt to divide leadership. While we don’t know the intentions of the City executives, we do know that many neighbors feel a distrust towards our City executives.

The Offer

Chief Sanders presented the City’s offer for raises, initially lower and after a caucus the finale offer is as follows. They are offering no pension reduction for rank and file and a 1.25 pension reduction supervisors. This reduction would get them back on the same pension plan as the other ranks due to the magistrates ruling.

• Firefighters 10.5% for year one, 4% in year two of the contract, and 3.5% in year three of the contract.
• Engineers 7% for year one, 4% in year two of the contract, and 3.5% in year three of the contract
• Lieutenant 5% for year one, 4% in year two, and 3.5% in year three of the contract.
• Supervisors offered 4% in year one, 4% in year two and 3% in year three (Reminder that supervisors received nothing in the one year and 4% is less than the general employees are getting this year. Also note that Curtis Richardson stated in the hearing that they could make up the loss of a raise in the one year during this three year negotiation).

The union called a caucus to discuss the offer. Upon returning the union presented a few questions to the city. They stated that this is not an offer they could agree to without polling the members.

Clarifying Questions

Morrison asked the City what was the downside to employee buy back would be. This is in reference to a program that allows all fire department employees to “buy” years off their service time in order to retire sooner (at a cost to the employee). Rob McGarrah responded that it is cost neutral in theory but it isn’t due to the cost of replacing the employees sooner.

Morrison asked a second question of the city which was to address plan D and where does the city stand on that. The city stated that it is a significant swing to do in one year but to maybe bring it back in future negotiations.

Due to the membership being polled on this contract, Morrison also asked about the other articles and how a yes vote on this might affect those other articles. The City stated that they will still negotiate on other articles and there will be movement but they can’t say if there will be movement on every article.

The city wanted to know David Morrison’s (lead negotiator for the Union) opinion. Morrison responded that it did not matter how he felt about the offer because he was representing the union body. The city ended this meeting stating that they believe this is the closest they have gotten to an agreeable resolution.

The next meeting will be on Monday the 9th at 9am. The city expressed a strong interest in wanting to come to an agreement quickly.