Thursday, January 22, 2009
The big issues of wages and health benefits were resolved.
Staff Report
YOUNGSTOWN — Approving a three-year contract is a testament to the ongoing cooperation between the city and the International Association of Firefighters Local 312, said fire Chief John O’Neill.
City council and the union, which represents 140 firefighters, came to an agreement on the pact, which will include a 3-percent retroactive pay increase during its first year.
Council passed the agreement at its Wednesday meeting. The agreement was a result of a fact-finder’s report on union contracts, as well as the proposals of both the city and the union.
“I’m thrilled; it’s always tough working through negotiations,” O’Neill said.
The two big issues were wages and health benefits, he said.
The three-year contract involves a 3-percent wage increase for the first year, which is Sept. 1, 2008, to Aug. 31. In August, the city and the union will go back to the drawing board and reopen wage increase negotiations.
Other unions received an annual 2.5-percent pay increase in 2008, according to the report done by fact-finder Robert G. Stein of Portage County.
The city had proposed no pay increase for the first year of the contract.
The contract also states that the firefighters will contribute 10 percent of their pay toward health insurance, but the caps on their monthly premiums were lifted, O’Neill said.
The caps from the recent contract were $35 for single coverage and $75 for family coverage.
Though the union wanted the caps to remain the same, O’Neill was still pleased with the outcome.
Both sides recognized the financial difficulties plaguing the area and worked out the compromise, the chief said.
“I think the cooperation between the city and Local 312 is probably the best relationship I’ve seen between union and management,” he added.
David Cook, union president, has said of the agreement, “It could be a lot worse.”
The contract agreed upon will result in significant savings for the city, said Councilwoman Annie Gillam, D-1st.
“I think they worked together,” Gillam said. “I think things are changing and we have to change with it,” referring to the city’s and nation’s economic struggles.