Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Firefighters Asked to Give Up Training Bonuses

Dec. 18--Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton said Monday that "times could get worse" if city police and firefighters reject concessions that will save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Leighton is asking firefighters and police officers to give up their training bonuses next year. Each officer and firefighter receives $1,500 annually to maintain training.

Employees are not required to do any extra work to receive the bonuses, which cost the city $232,500 in 2012, according to the budget.

Leighton said the city could lay off more employees if it doesn't receive those concessions. In November, the city laid off 11 firefighters and four temporary Department of Public Works employees. Leighton said he does not know if or when those employees will return to the workforce.

"It will be much more difficult to bring them back sooner with no concessions," Leighton said.

On Monday, Wilkes-Barre Firefighters Association President Mike Bilski said his union would likely vote against that or any concession until the city announces when the 11 firefighters will return and guarantees protection from further layoffs.

Bilski said the union offered to give up the bonuses before the cuts, but many feel reluctant now.

"What's to say that if we give him that back without any provisos, he's not going to come back and do it again?" Bilski said.

Officials from the Police Benevolent Association did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Leighton has sought concessions from the city's four unions since the fall, when he asked their workers to forego 3 percent raises in 2013 and to give up three paid non-federal holidays. He said he is still asking for the pay freeze -- no one has accepted them -- and that he'd accept it from the police and fire unions in lieu of the training bonus.

All city employees, including higher salaried non-union administrators, are contractually entitled to the raises, but Leighton said he will not request the pay freeze from administrators until the unions accept them.

The city awarded the police department the yearly bonus in 2002 after parking ticket enforcement shifted to another department. Each city police officer received a $1,300 bonus in 2002 and 2003 and $1,500 every year since.

Firefighters filed a grievance in 2007 seeking a similar bonus, citing language in their contract that entitled them to raises equal with police. In 2011, the city lost a long-fought legal battle and paid 87 current and retired firefighters $1.1 million in back pay. The city has since paid the $1,500 bonus to every firefighter.

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570-821-2052, @CVChrisHong