Firefighters submit new proposal

The latest contract proposal put forth by the Longboat Fire District Union includes a “me too” clause — i.e., a provision that firefighters will forgo step and cost-of-living allowance increases unless other town employees receive raises.

However, the latest proposal also contains several provisions that are likely to spark debate in the latest round of contract negotiations between the firefighters union and town, including:

• Paid time off for elected union officials to attend union functions;
• Increased vacation time;
• Recalculations that could double the amount of additional pay given for certain specialties;
• An increase in the Deferred Retirement Option Program period to 60 months from its current 36 months;
• An increase of 0.8 hours in compensation for holiday paid time off.

The proposal suggests increases in vacation time ranging from 144 hours, up from the current 120 hours, for firefighters with five to six years of service; and an increase to 360 hours from the current 240 hours for firefighters with more than 14 years of service.

Specialty pay would be calculated on an hourly basis, rather than the current biweekly stipend firefighters receive for various specialties. For example, fire apparatus driver operators currently receive an additional $20 per biweekly pay period. The new proposal suggests an additional $0.4465 per hour, which would equal about $50 per biweekly pay period for firefighters, who work 56 hours a week, or 24 hours on duty followed by 48 hours off. Certified fire safety inspectors would receive an extra $0.893 per hour, rather than the current $50 per biweekly period, an increase that would equal a little more than $100 per biweekly period.

The proposed contract would be valid from Oct. 1, 2011, through Sept. 30, 2014. In June, the commission approved a temporary contract between firefighters and the town.

Reynolds Allen, the town’s labor attorney, declined to comment on the contract.

“We have it under advisement, and we’re working on it,” he said.

According to Lisa Silvertooth, human resources manager for the town, negotiations are unlikely to resume before the end of the month. If a new contract is not approved before Oct. 1, the current contract will remain in effect during negotiations.