The request is for the City Council to vote in favor of supporting the proposed collective bargaining agreement between the City of New Port Richey and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), Local 1158 for the period spanning from October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2020.

As you already know, on March 13, 2018 I was notified by the IAFF that a majority of the firefighters voted in favor of the proposed labor agreement. Also as you already know, the negotiations have spanned over a significant amount of time before culminating into a proposed final agreement.  However, it is notable to mention that the bargaining strategy employed marked a poignant deviation in the past practice of the city in regard to positional protocols.

As such, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the firefighters negotiating team for being willing to step outside of traditional adversarial union-management bargaining arena so that the proposed contract in its conclusion would be and is a true representation of the interest-based bargaining method through which it was created.

That being said the purpose of this communication is to provide you with a summary of the terms and conditions that have been agreed upon by the union and the city's negotiating team over the course of the negotiations. They are as follows:

Wages:

• The firefighters agreed to accept future wage adjustments in accordance with the percentage amount as is provided to other union and non-union members of the city staff

• The firefighters career ladder step plan was amended as noted below:

Firefighters

1. Probationary FF for 12 months

2. FF I for 12 months

3. FF II from 2 years to 18 months

4. FF III from 2 years to 18 months

5. FF IV from 3 years to 2 years

6. FF V from 3 years to 2 years

7. FF VI from 3 years to 30 months

8. FF VII from 4 years to 3 years

9. FF VIII is infinite

Captains

1. Probationary Captains for a minimum of 6 months

2. Captain I  for 3 years

3. Captain II  for 3 years

4. Captain III  for 3 years

5. Captain IV is infinite

    

• Effective beginning with the first pay period following the ratification of the contact by the City Council, employees whom have already qualified for advancement to a higher step in the career ladder plan as modified shall be advanced to the appropriate higher step.  Employees that meet the time requirement for a higher step but have not satisfied the examination requirement for that step will not be advanced to the higher step in the career ladder program until they successfully complete the examination requirements for that step

• The clothing allowance was increased from $500.00 to  $650.00  

Health Insurance

• The firefighters agreed to share in the premium costs associated with health care coverage by paying the same percentage of cost as all other city employees

• In the event that health care costs increase by more than 10% in any one renewal year the city agrees to a re-opener as it relates to this contract provision

Pension:

• Effective the beginning of the pay cycle that succeeds the adoption of the collective bargaining agreement the employee contribution to the pension fund shall be reduced from 8% to 6.5% of salary

• Under the terms of the benefit structure:

Average Final Compensation shall be defined as (1/12) of the average annual salary of the best three years out of the last 5 years.

Compensation shall mean total cash remuneration paid by the city for services rendered and includes overtime payments up to and not exceeding 300 hours.  Salary does not include sick or annual leave.

Normal Retirement means a member's normal retirement date shall be the first day of the month coincident with or the next following the date he or she reaches age 52 and completes 10 years of credited service or the date he or she completes 23 years of service.

Normal Retirement Benefit shall equal 3.25% of average final compensation for each year or part thereof of credited service accrued succeeding the date of the ratification of the collective bargaining agreement.

Early Retirement eligibility is based on the attainment of age fifty (50) and the completion of ten (10) years of credited service.  Credited service and average final compensation shall be actuarially reduced to take into account the member's younger age and the earlier commencement of retirement income benefit payments not to exceed 3% for each year by which the member's age at retirement preceded the member's normal retirement age. 

• The city agreed to discontinue the Deferred Retirement Option Provision (BackDrop) Program

• The city agreed to reinstate the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) and furthermore members entering the Drop Program after the date of the adoption of the ordinance shall have a one-time irrevocable option of being credited with interest based upon the fixed rate of 1.5% or the Pension Plan's rate of return.

Chapter 175 Premium Tax Funds

• The parties mutually agreed that the total amount of accumulated excess Chapter 175 premium tax monies held in a reserve account as of the effective date of the collective bargaining agreement shall be applied to reduce the City's annual required contribution to the Firefighter Retirement System.

• The parties further agree and consent that the total amount of future excess Chapter 175 premium tax monies shall be applied to reduce the City's annual required contribution to the Firefighter Retirement System.

• A share plan will be created by the city in consultation with the union to implement the provisions of Section 175.351 (6) Florida Statutes, subject to the provisions as noted above.

Other:

• The grievance procedure was modified

• A change was made in the eligibility for holiday pay

• Some changes were made which relate to provisions that apply to promotional exams

• Layoff and recall procedures were modified

• Some changes were made in the eligibility for use of medical leave

• Several changes were made to the substance abuse policies and procedures

• Some changes were made in the Tuition Reimbursement Program

• Language was established to cover the eligibility of candidates for the promotion to Captain