TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

City, Firefighters Talk Again

ADVERTISEMENT

By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 4, 2008

TAMPA - Two weeks ago, hundreds of firefighters packed Tampa City Council chambers in what turned out to be a successful effort to persuade council members to side with them in a bitter pay dispute with the mayor.

The respite from tough city/union negotiations was short-lived. Today, city officials and firefighters will sit down to begin a new round of contract talks.

The short turnaround comes after the city council voted Aug. 22 to give firefighters pay raises that include a 4 percent cost-of-living raise, while keeping the step pay plan in place, which amounts to an additional pay increase averaging 5 percent.

But because negotiations over that contract dragged on so long, the contract expires in less than a month, meaning both sides are headed back to the negotiating table.

Union officials said they plan to request another pay raise for firefighters. But they wouldn't comment on how much they'll be asking for or other concessions they will be seeking.

They are hoping for less contentious negotiations this time around.

The city council had to decide the recent negotiations because the union and Mayor Pam Iorio's administration had reached an impasse.

"It depends on what stance the city takes," said Larry Parker, president of the firefighters union. "If they want to be stubborn with us again, then we'll do what we have to."

City officials also hope to reach an agreement without hitting an impasse.

"We will be trying to bargain in good faith," said city chief of staff Darrell Smith.

Smith said the council's decision to approve the raises has complicated the negotiations, because the double-digit increases could embolden the union to make hefty demands.

"They've set the bar," he said. "For us to negotiate down from there will be difficult."

This week, city finance officials rolled out new figures highlighting the possible long-term effect on the city's finances from the pay and step increases approved by the council.

Those figures estimate the difference between the city and union's raise proposals at $723,891 this fiscal year.

If the same plan remains in effect next fiscal year, finance officials say, the difference in costs between the council and mayor's plans would amount to more than $2.26 million.

Union officials had not seen those estimates Wednesday, but brushed them aside.

"Bottom line is, it's a done deal," Parker said. "We need to move on."

Firefighters fought hard for the larger pay increases, saying they were necessary to keep good employees from leaving the city for other departments that could offer them more.

The union had been working without a contract since the existing one expired last year.

Iorio, citing a tight budget, said the union's request was not affordable.

Christian M. Wade can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT