January 15, 2015
Fire union prepares for contract arbitration
The Cortland Professional Firefighters Association representing 35 city paid firefighters has filed a request to go to arbitration should the union and city fail to settle on a new contract.
Since July, the CPFA has been working under the terms of the contract which expired at the end of 2014. The union and city have been working with a mediator to negotiate the terms of a new agreement since last fall.
When an employer and a union feel they have reached an impasse in negotiations, the mediator tries to get both sides to come to an agreement.
If mediation is unsuccessful, negotiations go to arbitration, a process where both parties meet with one or more impartial arbiters who make a final, legally binding decision on both parties.
On Monday, union President Derek Reynolds said that while the union is still willing to negotiate, it wanted to be prepared in case arbitration is necessary as that process can take months to set up.
“We’ve talked to our counsel and he sent ... the paperwork to the (American) Arbitration Association and (we) said we’re just looking for a date to file in the future in case we need to go this route,” Reynolds said.
The AAA is a non-profit organization which assists with both the mediation and arbitration processes.
The main point of contention, Reynolds said, has been a proposed annual pay raise of 1 percent, which the union feels is not enough given the increase in health insurance costs.
“Our health insurance went up 5 percent this year, so stopping at a 1 percent raise is actually losing money out of our paycheck every week,” Reynolds said. “It’s not a standard cost-of-living increase that would even keep us at par. We would take a reduction in take-home pay.”
Last month, the city settled contracts with the local Service Employees International Union and Crossing Guard Association with both bargaining units agreeing to an annual 1 percent salary increase through 2016.
On Monday, Mayor Brian Tobin said while there are other areas of disagreement, in terms of pay the city’s offer is, “fair and equitable,” adding it is consistent with what other city employees have been offered.
“From the city standpoint, we feel it’s consistent and just and what taxpayers can afford,” Tobin said. “There are items in the contract that make it difficult in some respects to manage our costs, but what we’re asking for in negotiations are things we also think are reasonable.”
Reynolds estimated it could take six to eight months before an arbitration date is set, leaving time for more talks, but Tobin said the city does not plan to meet in the near future.
“No further talks have been scheduled and from the city standpoint, none are planned,” Tobin said. “I’m working under the impression that the union wants to go into arbitration.”
Reynolds said he is confident the union and the city can find common ground and get a contract finalized before arbitration is needed, adding he and the CPFA are committed to keeping Cortland County residents safe no matter what.
“Making sure the trucks respond, they’re adequately staffed and we’re protecting ... the citizens that’s where our main priority and focus is and needs to be,” Reynolds said. “All the other stuff is in the background — we can deal with that at a later date.”
To read this article and more, pick up today's Cortland Standard
Click here to subscribe