Administration, firefighters talking again
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published March 10, 2010

City administration officials and the firefighters union are returning to the negotiating table Thursday.

“We’re cautiously optimistic,” Fire union president Dave Boatman said. “We’re hopeful that we can come to an agreement with the city and find something which we’re all more satisified with.”

Mayor Kevin Kennedy also said the city is ready and willing to talk.

“We’re glad they decided to come back,” he said. “We would hope that we can get an agreement done and avoid the conciliation process.”

City officials have until the end of March to file a municipal budget with state officials. One set of proposed fire department figures based on projections using a fact-finders report is being used in the current budget discussions, but officials are hoping to get the budget finalized with a contract in place with the fire union. All the other city unions have entered into agreements in which they give up about 10 percent each in concessions.

After rejecting a fact-finders report in late February which both administration and union officials said favored the administration, the union then sought binding conciliation. That means they would have to accept the ruling – unless the firefighters took it to court. After that, the administration got city council to pass special legislation giving the administration the ability to reorganize the fire department. The legislation calls for the elimination of the rank of captain, which would drop the current four captains in rank. It also gives the administration the ability to hire up to 15 part-time firefighters.

Boatman and other firefighters have said they are willing to give concessions comparable to the other unions, but said they want to be treated like the other unions in terms of furlough days. The firefighters also want their contracts to reflect language similar to the other agreements, where the concessions are not permanent.

“We just want to be treated fairly and like the other unions,” Boatman said. “We are willing to do our part.”

City officials have said they need to find in excess of $400,000 in the fire department. Kennedy has said they can do it via an agreement with the firefighters which contains concessions, or they can utilize the legislation passed by city council. Officials are still in the process of finding a conciliator. Kennedy said he expects an agreement to be closer to the fact-finders report.

“Right now, we’re not using the reorganization,” Kennedy said. “The legislation is there and we can use it, but we hope to reach an agreement. We’re not going to wait forever because we have to file a budget. We are looking for an agreement which is fair, so the next step is up to them.”

If an agreement is reached, the city council also must approve it. Council Finance Committee Chairman Paul Barker said he’s glad the city and firefighters are talking contract again.

“We’re not in the negotiations, but I would hope that the talks are successful,” he said. “We’ve all had to give some in this economy.”