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Firefighters’ contract calls for two-year pay freeze, higher health care costs

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By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer 7:10 PM Wednesday, February 8, 2012

MIDDLETOWN — City firefighters will have a two-year pay freeze and double their health care premiums.

“Would it be nice for them to take less? Of course it would,” said Vice Mayor Dan Picard of the three-year contract ratified Tuesday. “But I don’t think it’s going to happen and I think it’s the best deal we could get.”

Councilman Josh Laubach, who was the only to vote against the contract with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 336, voted against the agreement.

“The contract, in my opinion, is not affordable for the city, nor do I see it as a benefit for the citizens or the firefighters,” he said.

Picard said he believes the city has done well at “holding the line” in negotiating union contracts in recent years, holding pay raises at zero or 1 percent.

While wages will be frozen for 2012 and 2013, the contract allows wages to be negotiated for 2014, the last year of the contract. However, if council approves raises for nonunion and other union employees, the IAFF members will see a similar raise as dictated by the contract’s “me too” clause.

The firefighters’ health care payment will increase from 7.5 percent to 15 percent. The contract will affect approximately 75 firefighters.

Jon Harvey, IAFF 336 president, said now that the negotiation process is over, the department can “focus on our services delivery and being out there for the citizens.

“I think it’s a big benefit for the city to be able to control their costs and being able to forecasts what their costs are,” he said.

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

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