Warren firefighter union accepts concessions

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Marc Titus, president of the warren firefighters union talks about the contract his membership ratified Friday that reduces firefighters pay and benefits by 10 to 11 percent during the second half of 2009, saving the city about $473,000.

By Ed Runyan

WARREN — By a 75 percent margin, Warren’s firefighter union has ratified a contract covering the last six months of 2009 that reduces wages and benefits by about 10 percent and saves the cash-strapped city about $473,000.

The concessions include a 2.5 percent reduction in pay, elimination of the city’s paying the 6 percent pickup of the firefighters’ pension costs, $400 annual uniform allowance, $500 annual attendance bonus, longevity pay and changes in their health-care coverage.

Marc Titus, president of Firefighters Local 204, said the concessions result in the 58 firefighters giving the city 29 percent of the money needed to offset its $1.6 million shortfall, even though the firefighters make just 23 percent of the wages in the city’s general fund.

“We’ve always stated that safety is paramount,” Titus said.

“We voted for our safety and citizen safety,” he said — adding that the vote was not a vote of confidence for Mayor Michael O’Brien.

“This is not saying we agreed to the way the mayor is running the city,” Titus said. “If we took that vote, it would be 100 percent against.”

Titus said he believes city officials such as council members and administrators should also take wage cuts that match the concessions firefighters have made.

Titus noted that the firefighters are working under a three-year contract signed Jan. 1 that called for a one-year wage freeze, reductions in rank for three firefighters, elimination of nine positions through attrition and layoff of 15 firefighters (four of them being vacancies not filled).

The city had threatened to lay off 18 more firefighters July 3 if the union did not accept the most recent concessions.

Under the agreement, starting firefighters will earn $12.24 per hour, firefighters with three years’ experience will earn $17.48, lieutenants will earn $20.11, captains will earn $23.15 and assistant chiefs will make $26.59.

Titus declined to explain all of the changes to the firefighters’ health care plan but said the change does not require firefighters to begin paying a percentage of their health-care premium. Instead, it involves higher co-pays for office visits and the like.

The city expects to save $250,000 in 2009 as a result of health care changes tentatively approved by all six of the city’s unions on Wednesday.

runyan@vindy.com