New fire fighter contract lifts District costs
To the editor:
I recently read that our Fire Commission had reached a contract with the Fire Fighters Union. The fire fighters had been working under an expired contract and under terms imposed at a legislative hearing by the former Fire Commission. The terms imposed by the former Commission resulted in significant cost savings to the District and its taxpayers. Below is a comparison of some highlights from when I left office to the new contract.
– Pay: The new contract immediately and RETROACTIVELY increased most base wages 3 percent. Again, this October most base wages will increase another 2 percent. Beginning October 2016, base wages will increase yet another 2 percent. Wage increases in excess of 7 percent WITHOUT REGARD to the cost of living, employee performance or district finances.
– Holiday Pay: As a result of the legislative hearing, only those employees who actually worked a holiday received holiday pay. The purpose of holiday pay is to reward employees who are forced to be away from their families and motivate the more experienced to work a holiday in an attempt to benefit public safety; having the most experienced on duty for a busy beach holiday. The new contract fails on both of these counts. It provides holiday pay for each and every hourly worker whether those employees work or stay home. It even includes employees who are on vacation; it is extra pay for every hourly employee. Extra pay (and cost to the taxpayers) that neither rewards the employees who are forced to work, nor benefits the taxpayers.
– Overtime: For the purposes of overtime, Federal Law allows fire departments flexibility in calculating overtime pay. The new contract cuts in HALF the number of hours that are required to be worked before overtime is earned.
Needless to say this will greatly increase the districts costs.
Dave Brower
Fort Myers Beach