The Bravest
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE UNIFORMED FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER NEW YORK
SPECIAL CONTRACT ISSUE
CONTRACT FACTS by Stephen J. Cassidy think it’s important for all UFA members to understand what this contract gives us if ratified, what happens if it’s rejected and why the Executive Board thinks this is the best deal we can get.
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The reason we took this deal now instead of waiting, is because we were able to secure incredibly valuable items that we never expected the City to agree to. First, we secured the C+20 staffing agreement as part of our contract. This deal not only gives us 96 hours of roster overtime permanently, but it also protects our current staffing and gives us 20 five-firefighter engines in our contract forever. Some have said this is no big deal. I don’t think they understand its significance. This contract doesn’t just give us 20 five Firefighter Engines, it also guarantees C level staffing +20. This protects the staffing in all companies of the FDNY because AUC 287 mandates that the Ladder Companies, Rescue Companies, Squad Companies, and HazTech Engine Companies, start the tour with (5) five Firefighters and all Engine Companies start the tour with (4) four Firefighters. In addition, Haz-Mat 1 starts the tour with (7) seven Firefighters and Marine Division Companies start with (2) two Firefighters. The Department can’t reduce any staffing if we ratify this contract. If we don’t, this Mayor or the next certainly could make staffing reductions, and after the FDNY just changed its ventilation policy, no Firefighter should be surprised at what position is most vulnerable. Remember, whenever the Department has reduced ladder staffing after the start of the tour, it has always taken the OV Firefighter. Second, we were able to reach an agreement on full disability benefits for the 1700 current members and all future members hired (see article on next page) after 7/1/09. The UFA led this public fight and ultimately got the City to completely change its position. We believe this is the best deal available because it is better than the Uniformed Coalition deal (11 months of zeros) and it gives us the staffing protections and 20 five
Firefighter Engines plus the ¾ disability pension for our new members. We didn’t wait for the PBA arbitration because the City gave us both items that we thought they would never agree to. We also believe that the neutral arbitrator in the PBA case will be bound by the pattern firmly established by the Uniformed Coalition which includes the NYPD Detectives, Lieutenants and Captains along with the UFOA.This pattern was further solidified when the NYPD Sergeants also settled their contract with the same pattern. The UFOA and every superior police union have settled their contract and they clearly have established or cemented “THE PATTERN.” These five unions and their labor attorneys believe strongly that the pattern they settled almost a year ago will hold and they have no language that allows them to address any inequities that arise from the PBA arbitration. Why? Because all of them believe the pattern is locked down. We agree, but we only settled after we were able to remove the 11 months of zeros and secure the staffing protections and disability benefits. The Executive Board, like all of you, believes that we deserve more than the 11.51% compounded raises over 7 years, but the basic pattern was set by others. The Executive Board believes that what we were able to secure now, and the protections we secured forever, make this the best deal the UFA can or will get in this round of contract negotiations. Just to be clear, the UFA Executive Board does not believe there will be an opportunity to continue negotiations should this contract be rejected. The City will declare an impasse and force us into arbitration to accept the uniformed pattern deal. The arbitration process will not allow any contract provisions on staffing or pensions and we could end up with 11 months of zeros up front. We hope that you will consider this as you make your decision.