Sept. 24--COLLINSVILLE -- The city and its firefighters have come to a settlement over a contract change that an arbitrator ruled the city was not allowed to make.
In June 2012, Collinsville changed its practices regarding call-ins of off-duty firefighters in an attempt to reduce overtime costs. Previously, off-duty employees were called in to back-fill vacancies when crews and equipment are deployed in an emergency.
Those back-up calls were paid at a minimum of two hours; three hours for "box alarm" fires. After the policy change, the firefighters would not receive the minimum amount, but only for however long they were required to remain at the station.
The International Association of Firefighters Local 2625 filed a series of grievances, however, alleging that the city could not simply make a change of that magnitude; it was part of the contract and should have been negotiated. The grievances were eventually sent to arbitration.
"The arbitrator ruled that the city did not have the right to change the language (of the contract) in midstream," City Manager Scott Williams said during Monday's City Council meeting. Instead, the city should have negotiated the change, according to the arbitrator.
The city was ordered to reinstate its former policy and reimburse employees for lost wages. The firefighters' union and the city negotiated a settlement of $103,000, which the council voted unanimously to approve. However, councilman Mike Tognarelli said he voted "reluctantly" in favor.
The firefighters work 42 hours per week in 24-hour shifts on duty. The city averages about $350,000 a year in overtime, Williams said.
In other news, the council on Monday approved a new contract with the Fraternal Order of Police for 2012-13, allowing a 2 percent increase in pay that will be back-paid for the expired time. The contract expires at the end of this year, so they will have to begin negotiating immediately on the next contract.
Williams said the delay was due to some issues that went into arbitration, which was recently resolved in the city's favor.
At the same time, the firefighters' contract expires at the end of this year, so they will also open negotiations this week with them for 2014, he said.
Mayor John Miller, who is a retired firefighter, said that he expects the overtime issue will be on the negotiating table with the firefighters.
Contact reporter Elizabeth Donald at [email protected] or 239-2507.
Copyright 2013 - Belleville News-Democrat
