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Tampa, Firefighters Take Contract Battle To Magistrate

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 11, 2007

TAMPA - Contract talks between Tampa firefighters and city administrators have deteriorated to the point the firefighters have declared an impasse.

For the first time in about 14 years, the firefighters union and city officials plan to turn to a special magistrate to help settle the dispute, which is primarily about pay. The magistrate will make a recommendation that, if rejected by either side, will be up to Tampa City Council to settle.

The union and administration are trying to agree on a one-year contract. The previous contract expired Sept. 30.

Last month, union members voted 462-0 to reject the city's contract offer. The union also has filed an unfair labor practice claim against the city because it wasn't giving out raises while negotiations were under way.

"We feel like the city can afford to pay its firefighters a fair and comparable wage," said Larry Parker, president of the local chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters. "We understand there are budget constraints, but we believe the money is available."

The administration has offered the firefighters a 2.3 percent cost-of-living increase plus 3.5 percent merit increases for satisfactory performance, for an annual total of 5.8 percent, said Sarah Lang, employee relations manager.

Lang said the union has proposed a 5 percent cost-of-living increase, plus merit increases averaging 5 percent, for an average 10 percent annual increase.

Parker says that's misleading, considering that about half of the union members are at the top of their pay scales and no longer qualify for merit raises. The union wants to leave the pay scale as is.

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