Council considers fire union contract

Firefighters agree to wage freeze and to pay more for health care.

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By Michael D. Pitman Updated 3:35 PM Thursday, January 19, 2012

By Michael D. Pitman

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — Firefighters have agreed to no wage increases for at least two years and to double their health care payments, according to a new three-year IAFF contract City Council is considering.

City Law Director Les Landen said that this contract will “lead us in the right direction.”

“I think considering the economic times and the financial times the governor put the city in, it was a win for the city,” IAFF President Jon Harvey said, “and there was no sense of us prolonging any kind of process when our goal is to try to move this city forward.”

But Councilman Josh Laubach thinks the city staff “could have done a better job.”

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the board had a first reading of the new three-year contract, which has been approved by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 336. Negotiations had been going on since June.

“The agreement has very little change in the contract,” Landen said referencing to the last one that expired on Dec. 31.

There will be no wage increases for 2012 and 2013, except if council approves raises for other nonunion and union employees as dictated by a “me too” clause, and they will increase their health care payment from 7.5 percent to 15 percent.

Council is expected to vote on the contract that will affect approximately 75 firefighters at their Feb. 7 meeting.

City Manager Judy Gilleland said given the economic times, the contract is “fair.”

“Zero percent increases are common nowadays and while we can’t afford to pay our employees what they’re worth, we know that they’re working their hardest to serve the citizens of Middletown,” she said.

But Laubach believes the contract is not beneficial for the city.

“I think we have to do a better job if we’re going to move forward in the future and provide adequate safety protection and meet all of our obligations,” he said.

He’d like to see more money invested in infrastructure.

Of the $2.16 million the city’s budgeted to spend in 2012 on capital improvements, more than 60 percent comes from state, federal or other means.

And Laubach said about 70 percent of the city’s general fund is spent on police and fire, and he said the city cannot afford that.

“I think we need a pay reduction, which isn’t there,” he said. “And the ‘me too’ clause was not in the best interest of city employees.”

“We’re spending so much on public safety; we’re not spending enough (local) money on our infrastructure,” he said.

Harvey disagrees with Laubach’s assessment, saying historically cities nationwide pay 70 to 80 percent for police and fire departments.

Middletown has budgeted 72 percent of the general fund for public safety, or just under $21 million, for 2012. Of the $8.9 million spent on the fire department, 88 percent is spent on personnel.

“That’s where citizens say where they want their money spent,” Harvey said. “I think Josh’s hatred for unions gets in his way of thinking clearly.”

Laubach responded to Harvey’s comments Thursday.

“That statement is inflammatory political rhetoric that serves no purpose other than to promote conflict and division,” Lauchbach said. “I have no issues with people exercising to freedom of association.”

Harvey said the contract does move the city forward because it controls costs, and there’s no substantial cost to the city. Landen said it was “budget neutral” except for the health care costs which are often “driven by outside forces.”

Vice Mayor Dan Picard said Landen accomplished what he was directed — come back with a cost neutral contract.

“It’s good for the city and it’s good for everyone involved and we need to move ahead,” he said. “It ensures the cost of the firefighters for the city will remain neutral for the next three years, and I would dare to say that happened for decades.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or michael.pitman@coxinc.com.  »Follow this reporter at twitter.com/mdpitman.

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