From the Riverside-Brookfiled Landmark:
After its previous contract expired at the end of 2012, it took Brookfield police and the village nearly a year to negotiate a new agreement. However, reaching a deal with the city's firefighters was far smoother. On December 9, village trustees unanimously approved a new three-year contract—three weeks before the current one was set to expire.
"The relationship between both sides has been very professional," said Village Manager Riccardo Ginex. "It’s much better than it used to be."
Ginex was referring to a time not too long ago when firefighters reluctantly accepted a one-year pay freeze in 2010 to avoid layoffs. That decision led to tension and eventually prompted the firefighters to switch their union representation from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).
In 2011, the two sides reached a three-year agreement that restored pay increases but also required firefighters to cover a larger portion of their health insurance costs. The latest contract, which expires on December 31, 2016, maintains the 15% contribution for health insurance and includes base pay raises of 2.5%, 3%, and 2.5% over the three years.
But the contract also includes step raises for firefighters during their first six years of service, which significantly boost their salaries beyond what the base raise percentages suggest. For example, a firefighter starting in January 2014 would earn $56,054. With step raises, their salary would jump to $61,697 in 2015—a 10% increase—and then to $69,961 in 2016, a 13.4% rise. By the end of the contract, a firefighter in their sixth year would make $87,239. Compared to the starting salary of $54,526 in 2010, that's a 60% increase over six years.
After six years, firefighters no longer receive step raises and only get the base annual increases. A new lieutenant starting in 2014 would earn $90,058. With step raises, their salary would reach $100,325 by January 2016—an 11.4% increase. After that, they will only receive base pay raises.
A key change in the contract, requested by the union, is a provision banning firefighters from working as firefighters or paramedics during their off-duty hours. The goal is to prevent injuries while working elsewhere, though the village would still be responsible for disability benefits in such cases.
Ginex also mentioned that the IAFF hopes to see all fire departments in the state hire full-time firefighters rather than rely on paid-on-call personnel.
Thanks Dan
DSM Screen, curved screen,screen plate,120° bent screens,120° Sieve Bend Screen,Johson screen, perforated plate
Huatao Group , https://www.huataofilter.com