IAFF NEGOTIATIONS FACT SHEET
IAFF ALLEGATION Negotiations have gone “nowhere.”
LAKE WORTH’S POSITION Parties met 11 times. • Agreement on 13 contract articles. • 14 outstanding articles (mostly economic).
IAFF ALLEGATION LAKE WORTH’S POSITION City violating contract by not paying COLA, Contract requires such payments if contract not longevity, and step increases. reopened. Lake Worth is voluntarily paying longevity and step increases (5%). IAFF ALLEGATION LAKE WORTH’S POSITION City refused to make monetary offer for other Lake Worth offered minimum firefighter salary of than firefighters. $17.51 per hour ($43,705 per annum = highest in county)* and minimum 5% for all firefighters (consistent with MGT study draft recommendations). With annual step increases = minimum 10% per annum firefighter raise. IAFF rejected and refused to counter referring to original demand (15.85% with step = 20.85%) ** ***. Lake Worth team advised IAFF it needed to meet with Commission in executive session for additional guidance on economic offer. Unable to make offer for DE, CPT, and BC until after executive session. IAFF declared impasse citing 57 days to arrange last executive session (Reasons for delay: Commissioner Lowe family member death and Hurricane Wilma). *Note: In addition to salary, Lake Worth contribution for pension and health benefits = 37.5% of salary (approximately $21,000-$23,000 average per employee). **Note: IAFF salary demand without step as follows: Fire Code Compliance Specialist-8.65%; Firefighter15.85%; Driver Engineer-14.55%; Captain-18.5% ; Battalion Chief- 12.58%; and new position District Chief (40 hour Captains)-30.35%. Add 5% to above as annual step increase. Cost = $750,000-$800,000 (salary) + approximately $200,000 (additional benefits). ***Note: Only firefighters are below MGT minimum (DE +9.59%, CPT +11.44%, BC + 7.81%). Captains even above MGT mid-point (+ 3.35%). IAFF ALLEGATION City is training ground. LAKE WORTH’S POSITION Lake Worth recognizes starting salary is below average which is reason for targeted salary proposal. • Since 2000 LWFD hired 20 new firefighters; 23 counting 3 new billets (60 firefighters)*. • Since 2000 LWPD hired 85 new officers (91 sworn officers)*. *Note: Not counting 3 new LWFD positions, in past 5 years PD replaced 93% of its sworn workforce, FD 33.3%. These statistics do not support union’s assertion.
IAFF NEGOTIATIONS FACT SHEET
IAFF IMPASSE ISSUES: LAKE WORTH’S IMPASSE ISSUES – NONE
Lake Worth filed unfair labor practice and motion to Drug Policy: • Union refuses to accept drug policy enjoin impasse proceedings against union for bad faith applicable to all other City employees*. bargaining. IAFF declared impasse even before all proposals thoroughly explored. Light Duty: • Union refuses to accept City proposal to discontinue light duty for off-duty injuries*. Economics (in addition to salary): • Union demanded higher pension multiplier than all other employees**. • Additional economic demands (more than all other employees): • Additional pay for step up or down (lower level duties). • Additional vacation, sick leave, sick leave incentive, safety day hours, higher sick leave maximum, death-inthe-family leave. *Note: Union declared will pursue impasse even if all economics are settled. **Note: Union argues employees will fund additional .25% multiplier and therefore no impact on City. In fact, this proposal will create an unfunded actuarial liability for which the City will be responsible. Presented to the City Commission on Friday, January 13, 2006