City firefighters got burned in a long-awaited arbitration decision on their pending union contract.
Over a four year period stretching back to July 2007, firefighters will get raises totaling 6.5 percent – half of what they were looking for.
They will also see their cost-sharing for health care rise from 5 percent of the tab to 9.75 percent in the final year, by far the highest of any city workers. The police union, the next highest, is due to pay 8.25 percent in the same fiscal year, which begins July 1.
In addition, new retirees in the fire department will also have to pay the same percentage of their health care as active duty firefighters.
Mayor Art Ward said the arbitrators clearly “recognized the economic crisis that municipalities are faced with at the present time” and took it into account in awarding contract terms.
City Comptroller Glenn Klocko said the city had socked away about $600,000 to pay off the firefighters’ back pay in the worst case scenario. Because the city won most items, about half the money will likely be returned to the rainy day fund.
Firefighters failed in their bid to change their work schedule so they would work 24 hours in a row and then get three straight days off.
The city has 25 days to reject the decision, but Ward has no plans to ask the City Council to consider it.
The city has 25 days to reject the decision, but Ward has no plans to ask the City Council to consider it.
The city spent at least $130,000 on lawyers to handle the case.
I'll have more on this Wednesday.
*******
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
51 comments:
A sign of sanity, at last.
interesting angle Steve, but the firefighters are actually not upset - they didn't "lose big" at all, in fact, they held their ground on the important stuff. Co-pays are the wave of the future. Raises are decent. The schedule wasn't a win, so it stays the same - no big. Apparently Artie boy is trying to rack up victories where he can get'em, but this one is not a real one by any means. As a taxpayer, I am apalled that they ended up in arbitration anyway -lack of leaderhip if you ask me. Actually, that's not true - he would have had to actually shown up at the negotiations to show leadership.
Let's put it this way: the fire union sought arbitration and wound up with the harshest contract in the city. Maybe firefighters are OK with that, but I've talked to a few who really hoped to do better.
And I know some other city unions aren't too thrilled with the terms either, because the fire union just lowered the bar.
It's all relative. They lost big compared to what they wanted and what they are used to getting, but compared to regular people who don't have City jobs, we can only dream of losing as big as the firefighter's union did on this contract.
10:41 -- True. They're all sitting pretty compared to newspaper salaries and benefits.
10:24 - if "they" are "not upset" with the results then why did the fire union opt to go to arbitration in the first place? And who is "they?" Evidently, I am not one of "they" because I am totally pissed.
I think that 10:24 is one of the fire union's "goon squad" leaders trying to justify their own colossal screw ups.
Maybe next time we can get some "real" leadership on our side that represents us, instead of outside political interests.
let's remember it's all on the career you picked. If you choose to be a newspaper reporter, you will be paid like one. If you choose to be a doctor, you'll be paid like one. If you choose to be a firefighter or police officer, those involve unions, like it or not, and you will be paid according to a contract. Let's stop vilifying the firefighters and police officers. If you would like a job that is pretty much recession proof and is, for the most part, safe as far as layoffs and such, then become a police officer or firefighter but don't blame them personally because their contracts are negotiated. You couldn't pay me enough to run into a burning building or stand in the line of fire of some whacked out citizen! As far as I'm concerned, they deserve every cent they are paid.
why dont we privatize then they can see what is like in the real world.
If you choose to be a doctor, you'll be paid like one.
May 26, 2010 8:15 AM
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Thanks to obamacare THAT will NOT be true once his travesty is up and running .
Steve, please don't compare the job of a newspaper reporter to that of a fireman or policeman!
I don't think there's a fireman in the dept. that isn't disappointed by this. You'd be hard-pressed to find one who didn't believe they got their a$$es handed to them in this decision. (Even if they don't admit it to you!) This contract puts BFD (by far) on the low end of what firefighters in CT earn. The city can rightly say that they issued a very disheartening blow to it's firefighters.
May 25, 2010 10:24 PM:
In other words the tax-payers are getting it hard enough for you?
May 26, 2010 11:57 AM:
You're right, most private in the sector people actually work most of the time they're getting paid.
Most people who commute to work 1 hour each way every day are in more danger than the average firefighter in Bristol. So are people who work in factories who risk getting severely injured by machinery all 40 hours of their workweek. How many hours in a work week does the average firefighter actually work? And hanging out drinking Dunkin Donut coffee, grilling burgers, and washing cars and trucks doesn't count. How many burning buildings do they go into every week?
May 26, 2010 1:36 PM
"You're right, most private in the sector people actually work most of the time they're getting paid. "
You're comparing drastically different things. Firefighting and law enforcement doesn't exist in the private sector, and for good reason. For over 150 years municipalities have come to the conclusion that there is indeed a value in providing these services to it's taxpayers. These are dangerous jobs that the average person could never attain, nor would they necessarily even want. It's funny how after 9/11 everyone talked about how brave the fallen were, and how they should be universally respected for their sacrifice. Now it's not even 10 yrs later and people are bashing them for being "overpaid" and having decent benefits. These aren't jobs like yours, they're inherently different....get over it. A firefighter will probably work harder at one structure fire than you have in your entire work history. A cop doesn't know for sure at the start of his/her shift if he or she is going home that night, or if that could be the shift they get gunned down.
Yes, it's dangerous to be a firefighter. But let's not overstate it.
There are more dangerous jobs, including sanitation workers.
The Daily Beast actually figured it all right here:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/1500/1/?redirectURL=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-04-08/the-20-most-dangerous-jobs/
Here's an easier link to it:
http://tinyurl.com/39pj2kq
the city didn't deliver any disheartening blows to the fire department, the arbitration panel, which the fire union opted to have decide their fate, did.
Don't play with fire if you are afraid to get burnt.
"Most people who commute to work 1 hour each way every day are in more danger than the average firefighter in Bristol. So are people who work in factories who risk getting severely injured by machinery all 40 hours of their workweek. How many hours in a work week does the average firefighter actually work? And hanging out drinking Dunkin Donut coffee, grilling burgers, and washing cars and trucks doesn't count. How many burning buildings do they go into every week? "
Your disdain (and disrespect) towards firefighters is duly noted, so there isn't much sense arguing with you via the internet. I'm truly sorry for you if you believe that is all firefighters do. I just wish the Bristol Press actually reported on what the BFD does. (On some kind of consistent basis.)
"the city didn't deliver any disheartening blows to the fire department, the arbitration panel, which the fire union opted to have decide their fate, did.
Don't play with fire if you are afraid to get burnt."
The city chose not to NEGOTIATE with the union on a single issue. Everything was to be on the city's terms, there was no middle ground. Should they just have conceded to the city on every item on the table?
How close is this to what was originally offered back during the previous administration?
Did the cops do better?
"NO LAW SHALL EVER BE PASSED TO CURTAIL OR RESTRAIN THE LIBERTY OF SPEECH OR OF THE PRESS."
Connecticut Constitution
This is on your blog... so why dont you post EVERY comment sent to your blog STEVE?
4;19, I detect no disrespect towards firefighters. Just a reality check. Please enlighten us on what an average firefighter does all week long.
I knew you wouldnt post it!!!!!
Study after study indicate that being a firefighter is the most dangerous occupation, not including the military, and it consistently ranks up there as being the most stressful also.
Ward hates the fire union because they backed Zoppo over him - Ward will hold a grudge for years!
All the nonsense about danger and stress is an attempt to cloud the issue that the fire fighters are going to receive apox 300k in pay. How many fire fighter does the city have 50? 100? Even on the low side that 3000 per fire fighter!!! Those of us who work in the private sector that do dangerous and stressful jobs and we aren’t getting raises we are getting laid off. What the fire fighters should do is say "THANK YOU Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer for giving me a stable and good paying job"
Steve i like to see that you have been interacive on the blog as of late. Thank you
"Study after study indicate that being a firefighter is the most dangerous occupation, not including the military, and it consistently ranks up there as being the most stressful also."
That's just not true. Steve already mentioned a list. Here is another:
1. Logger
2. Pilot
3. Fisher
4. Iron/Steel Worker
5. Garbage Collector
6. Farmer/Rancher
7. Roofer
8. Electrical Power Installer/Repairer
9. Sales, Delivery, and Other Truck Driver
10. Taxi Driver/Chauffeur
So please shut up about how dangerous the firefighters and police have it, because there are plenty of people who are far less compensated for more dangerous jobs.
6:13
Protect you!
4:48 - the fire union opted for arbitration which means that we were seeking relief from an impartial third party; do you mean to insinuate that the panel wasn't impartial?
then why did we opt to trust that process? can't have it both ways, we lost and now we have to move on.
Clearly it is time for new leadership in this union. If no changes are made in the next election, then as the old saying goes "you get what you get". Being unified is one thing but we have to realize this was probably not unexpected outcome and the union leaders pretty much knew they had no shot the longer this went.
In a down economy, no first responder status, and calls significantly down; this was a no brainer for the arbitrator. On top of that 24 hour shifts?
Change is in the wind. It is time for a new direction and fresh leadership for the fire union. This should be a lesson learned by the membership and if the union executives are measured by results, the only logical conclusion is to vote them out.
Maybe you can get Eliott Nelson to be your new fire union leader, he will get a really good deal from Ward.
Don't hate 1:35 PM. It's really so unattractive (and childish to boot!).
May 26, 2010 2:20 PM:
"...the average person could not attain."?
Your dillusions of grandeur would be laughable if it weren't so dangerous to our state and city's fiscal health.
Average what? Certainly "average" is a good word to describe the intelligence of many in your trade. How were your math scores on the SATs Mr. smart guy? It's about time these public employees were brought back down to earth.
The big winners in this decision were the arbitrators. Rell has been trying to eliminate their jobs for years, if they came down on the union's side they would be cutting their own throats. Talk about overpaid. How does $1200.00 a meeting sound? That is what an arbitrator makes per MEETING, no matter how long or short the meeting is. Sometimes they get in two a day. Further, even if the award went the union's way the city has a right to turn the decision down. In other words arbitrated awards are only binding on the UNION. The city never came back with a single counter offer througout the whole bargaining process. They forced the union into arbitration. Firefighters would have lost even more if they had aquiesed to the city's demands. If you bothered to read the entire award Steve, (not likely to happen because that would mean some real journalism) you would find that the only union "wins" were on items the city was trying to take away. Firefighters got NO new language favorable to them. The city knew they had leverage because of the economy and political climate and they went for the throat.It was a rigged game. Arbitrators let the city get their way purely to protect their own jobs. Collins, you show your true colors when you point to obscure data that minimizes the risks of firefighting. For every anecdotal piece of crap you can find there are ten real studies backed up with facts that show firefighting to be among the most dangerous and stressful professions. What a hack you truly are.
All you union and firefighter haters need to remember one fact.These firefighters are willing to risk their lives for others.How many of you are willing to do the same? I am not a firefighter...just someone who has respect for those who risk their lives for others.
May 28, 2010 10:12 AM:
It's not about hate stupid, it's about fairness and greed.
TO 10:12;
Fairness and greed? C'mon, Man!!! Is it fair that the Fire union is the only one in the city that doesn't get a "night differential"? Is it fair that we can't get holiday pay for Easter, even though we have to work it as a regularly scheduled day, away from our families, because the other city unions don't work on Sunday? Is a 3,3,1.5,1.5 percent raise greedey when the city gave 3.5 percent across the board for other unions? C'mon Man!!! Where is the fairness and greed when the City wants 800,000 every year from the pension (GASB 45), but can't afford about 150,000 from the same fund to give retirees a cost of living raise (.75 percent)?
If the City would actually negotiate, instead of dictating, they would find that all the unions understand the plight of the taxpayer, and as such , will work to find an agreement that will actually save the taxpayers money (but it may not be "FLASHY" enough, i.e.votes). The person running these negotiations creates an adverserial atmosphere. The Mayor never even attended a meeting, because he admittedly lacks the skill to negotiate! (HUH?)
10:12, lay your labels where they belong.... being unfair and greedy is on the municipalities side, and rest assured they use the same tactics to get what they want from the TAXPAYERS!!!!
The Bristol Firefighter's Lose Big!!!...
The Firefighters Still Have A Job With Great Pay and Benefits...Our Family Is "Very Grateful"...Maybe Most of These Men/Women Need More of An Attitude of Gratiude...
From A Firefighter's Wife ☺
How many of the previous Fire Contracts did Ward vote "YES" on?
He could have opted for changes then.
It's good to see that some people's true colors are revealed when times are tough. I would imagine that the people in this blog bashing firefighters were quick to wave a flag when the Worcester 6 or the 343 at Ground Zero perished. Now everyone in this economy has lost so much, and all of a sudden firemen are selfish union fatcats or worse?
5:49 - cry me a river.
Sadly after reading most of these comments and negative comments in other posts,it is a sad state of what we protray ourselves to be.I think if a person from a different country came across alll our negativity in everything negative written about our city and it's residents,what would they think.Then again I thinks about all of this further and realize that all negativty written on this Blog is written by a select few.Again sadly some of them are representives of our city.That is a scary thought.
5/26 6:13: you obviously spoke before you received information on what they do. when they are not fighting fires and showing up to every car accident in the city and inspecting buildings and opening up locked cars and attending to other safety concerns, they are training and take recertification classes. These are not the firefighters of old who sat around day in and day out watching t.v. like the maytag man. These folks earn every cent and then some. Try fighting a fire yourself sometime. Your eyes will be opened very quickly and you'll be humming a different tune!
2:04 - written like a true union president, mea cuppa, mea cuppa, mea cuppa.
I am utterly disgusted at all of you who are speaking out against the fire and police departments. It is sickening and horrific that such words are said against someone that would risk your life for YOU and YOUR FAMILIES! Their families wait at home every day and night hoping they don’t get the call that they lost a loved one. They worry that their lives can be turned upside down because they burned to death because they saved your house or cat. They fear hearing that their spouse was shot because some disturb person was mad at another. I’d like each and everyone of you to run into a burning building, put in the middle a shoot out, climb a 25 foot ladder with a hose, walk up to a car with an armed driver and you tell me how much that is worth. These people work for your lives to serve and protect YOU and your families. Your lives and families are worth that much to bitch about. Grow up! Most of you are too gutless to even try to be a policeman or firefighter. Hats off to all of those who serve and protect!!!
2:04pm - Unions have made cry babies out of the firefighters. They won't even rake leaves without filing a complaint. Give us a break, everytime I drive by any fire house they are all sitting on the bumpers of the fire trucks - yeah I want that job.
Lets be real here - Bristol isn't New York or any other major city. How many big fires has Bristol had. I mean you could get more of a fire lighting a match after our Mayor leaves the bars.
Our Bristol firefighters have it real good.
12:15pm spoken like a true union, firefighters wife.
I'm A Wife of A Retired Fireman...Believe Me...They Probably Watch More TV Than You on Any Given Day, They -itch and Moan About Doing Chores, They or Significant Others Bring Their Vehicles To The FD To Wash On City Water, They Eat Very Well, They Have "GREAT" Benefits(Although, They Complain About A Co~pays)...Yeah, There Is Great Risk In Their Job...There Is Also Great Risk Crossing The Street, Driving A Car...These Days, Everyday We Live(Work, Play) is A Risk. So, Don't let Them Fool You With A "HUGE" Guilt Trip(Believe Me, When My Husband Was Working and They Were Pissed Off @ Him For Whatever Reason and There was a Fire, The Chance of A Fellow Bristol Firefighter Looking Out For Him(His Back) Were Slim To None(I Was "ALWAYS'S" So Worried When He Worked...If He'd Make It Home Safely or Not At All)...And They Say They Have A Brotherhood...Hogwash! Most "ONLY"
Care About Themselves...And,
As Far As I'm Concerned...They Chose This Job Along With The Risks...DEAL WITH IT!
This discussion finally had someone who got it right. Thanks retired firefighter wife. If our firefighters lived in Bristol and raised families in Bristol then maybe they would give a crap about Bristol.Go ahead do a survey. Many of our Bravest don`t even buy a soda in our town. Alarming how many continue to cry about their contract. Try sharing our burden with your contract.Try investing in Bristols future instead of withdrawing from it.Live,work, and retire here and watch the respect meter rise in your favor.
1:25PM...THANK YOU!
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