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Tampa Hammers Out Contract With Firefighters

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 27, 2009

TAMPA - After several months of tense negotiations, Tampa officials have hammered out a tentative agreement with the city's firefighters on a one-year contract.

Under the agreement, which will require city council approval, firefighters would get a 2.5 percent cost-of-living raise and a 3.5 percent step plan increase for those who qualify.

"I think that with the current state of the economy, it's an acceptable contract," said Larry Parker, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 754, the union that represents the city's firefighters. "But we still feel that we are not getting paid enough."

City officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Last August, the council agreed to give firefighters pay raises that include a 4 percent cost-of-living raise, while keeping the step pay plan in place for those who qualified, because the union and Mayor Pam Iorio's administration had reached an impasse.

Iorio, citing a tight budget, had proposed eliminating the step plan and offered the union a 3.5 percent merit increase for all firefighters, plus a 3 percent cost-of-living boost.

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 in 2007.

Iorio recently capped cost-of-living increases for city workers, saying the city will be offering no higher than a 2.5 percent cost-of-living increase for firefighters, police and other city workers. She said the city faces a possible $35 million shortfall next year.

The city also is in the midst of contract negotiations with the Amalgamated Transit Union, representing about 2,000 blue-collar, technical and clerical workers.

Next year, the city begins negotiations with the police union on a new contract.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (813) 259-7679

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