Thursday, September 16, 2004
The unsettled contract with firefighters will go back to SERB.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CAMPBELL -- City council rejected a fact-finding report Wednesday connected to labor negotiations with firefighters.
Council rejected the State Employment Relations Board's fact-finding report largely because of the minimum manning clause in the contract, Mayor Jack Dill said.
The clause requires the city to have at least two firefighters on duty at all times. "If sufficient personnel are not available to meet the minimum-manning requirement, firefighters shall be recalled or retained on overtime status," the clause reads.
If on-duty firefighters are called out of the city to provide mutual aid to a neighboring community, additional firefighters would be called out on overtime to man the station. Any firefighters called out to assist at the scene would also be paid overtime.
Issue of cost
Council recognizes that retaining this clause could cost the city far too much in overtime pay, Dill said.
The only modification in the contract language, he noted, is an insertion stating that the city may use the fire chief to meet the minimum-manning requirements during his regular shifts.
Because council rejected the report, Dill said, it will go back to the State Employment Relations Board for conciliation. The board will go over the contract item by item and agree with either the city or the union. "They can't change the items, they can only agree or disagree," Dill said, whatever the outcome is will become the contract.
Council also moved the following legislation to second readings:
UAuthorizing the director of administration to advertise for bids and the board of control to enter into a contract for the purchase of term life insurance for city employees and elected officials.
UAdvertising for bids and enter into a contract for the purchase of PPO hospitalization, dental and eye care insurance for city employees and elected officials.
USolicit proposals for a city engineer for one year, Dec. 1, 2004, to Nov. 30, 2005.
Council's next regular meeting will be Oct. 6.
kubik@vindy.com