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Law firm to handle talks with fire union

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI

kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com

Published: October 22, 2009

Pasco County commissioners have hired an Orlando-based law firm specializing in labor negotiations to handle future contract talks with the county's unionized firefighters.

Commissioners hired Ford & Harrison LLP on Tuesday at a rate of $250 an hour. Among other things, the firm specializes in negotiating with firefighters on behalf of management, County Attorney Jeff Steinsnyder said.

"All they do is labor," Steinsnyder said of Ford & Harrison.

County officials spent much of the summer trying to reach a deal with firefighters for the current budget year in the face of a $36 million dollar budget deficit. Firefighters rejected that contract last month because it would have eliminated their paid holidays in the nine months of the budget that fall in 2010.

Firefighters want those holidays restored. They'll vote in early November on a new contract that looks very much like their old one, union President Ralph Grant said.

Spending money to restore those holidays forced Emergency Services Director Anthony Lopinto to cut nearly two dozen firefighter jobs. The result could be reduced service this year as Lopinto juggles staff to cover day-to-day vacancies, leaving some stations short-handed.

In the meantime, firefighters continue to work under the conditions of the expired contract. Also, the department's battalion chiefs are working on their own separate contract negotiation.

Steinsnyder said the growing complexity of the union talks exceeded the skills of his staff and of Personnel Director Barbara DeSimone. DeSimone is a lawyer who has negotiated with firefighters on behalf of the county for several years.

Grant said he expects to meet the new lawyers at the bargaining table in March, when work begins on the 2010-11 contract.

"That doesn't bother us," he said.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 731-8168.

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