City Disappointed in Unnecessary Fire Union Actions Fire Union’s Actions Against the City Has Cost Taxpayers $270,000 in Legal Fees
PAWTUCKET – It is unfortunate and disappointing that the Fire Union Local 1261 would conduct themselves in this manner and try to mislead the residents. The Fire Union filed the original demand for arbitration, not the City – they refused to sign the typical timetable waiver agreement, and filed for this unnecessary arbitration without exchanging proposals or even having one negotiating session with the City. It has always been and remains the City of Pawtucket’s goal to reach a negotiated collective bargaining agreement in good faith.
The timing of their picket is questionable on many levels, especially since the Fire Union who filed for arbitration just finished presenting their case earlier this month. To now bring in the RI State Association of Fire Fighters (RISAFF) to try and politically influence the City’s defense on behalf of the taxpayers is just wrong.
The City of Pawtucket, on behalf of our residents, had no desire to arbitrate this matter with the Fire Union. Unfortunately, the Fire Union chose not to negotiate this contract in good faith, and made demands through binding arbitration that would cripple the City and overburden our taxpayers. It is important for everyone to know the facts and timeline of this drawn out process.
The arbitration process that was forced by the Fire Union has been a lengthy one, costing the taxpayers $269,371 in legal fees over the course of this unnecessary three-year process; The Fire Union refused to sign the typical timetable waiver agreement with the City; Without exchanging proposals or even having one negotiating session with the City, the Fire Union filed a demand for arbitration; They demanded three consecutive 6% salary increases which would have cost the taxpayers $4,250,000 over the past three years; The Union has refused to pay additional medical co-shares. Modest increases in the belowmarket co-shares they currently pay could save the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. While all City employees benefit from Cadillac health plans, they should pay their fair share, as the vast majority of the public we serve does not have access to healthcare of the same standard. These same employees pay no co-share at time of retirement for free healthcare, something completely foreign to almost all private and public sector employees. This contributes to the City’s ongoing challenges with unfunded pension and OPEB liabilities and must end; It took more than a year for the Fire Union to put on its case, which was entirely out of the City’s control; and
It remains the City’s goal to negotiate all labor contracts in good faith with our bargaining units (including the Fire Union) that protect the taxpayers’ best interest – something we have been able to do with every other union during the time this matter has been in arbitration.
The arbitration process has been lengthy and, even with delays, the City has continued to negotiate in good faith, having had our most recent negotiating session this month. The Union leadership board recently went through changes which again created delays that were not within the City’s control. This arbitration process and the delays are solely on the Fire Union. And for them to now try and blame the City is both unfair and unfortunate.
It’s important to note that despite the City’s designation as a financially distressed community, in this same time frame the City has:
Negotiated contracts with each of the other four (Police, Teamsters and two separate AFLCIO) Unions; Invested in the fire department’s staffing levels, which are overstaffed at 153 firefighters, which is the highest level in modern history; and Purchased three new fire engines, two new ladder trucks and six new rescues at the total price of $4,254,052.16 over the last six years.
It is also of note that, the public safety pension obligations for the City and OPEB increases have combined for almost 65 percent of the City’s entire increase in spending since 2007. Meaning that instead of reducing taxes, improving services, investing in our future, or funding our schools, over half of the taxpayers’ new costs over that time period has going to unproductive legacy benefits.
Nevertheless, as part of moving the City forward and continuing to address the long-term inherited problems in our public safety facilities, we continue to progress toward a state of the art public safety complex that will consolidate and relocate the police headquarters and some fire stations. This administration will continue to balance the Public Safety Obligations against the Residents ability to pay.
To be clear, this Administration values the work of our Firefighters, and all of our public servants. Throughout this drawn out and costly process that the Fire Union forced, we have done our best to work in good faith toward a mutually beneficial resolution. We remain committed to negotiating with all of our unions in good faith on agreements that benefit them and protect our taxpayers. Their actions will not deter the City of Pawtucket from continuing to approach collective bargaining and all policy matters with the taxpayers’ interest first.