FY2005 Negotiations

IAFF FY2005 Contract Negotiations

Ratification Vote Passes

July 29, 2004 - After finishing a three-shift ballot-box vote on ratification of the proposed FY05 Contract, 87% of those voting accepted the proposed agreement with 13% rejecting it, in a 97 to 15 vote. The Proposal thereby passes. See Agreed to changes...

Mediation

July 16, 2004 - The IAFF Local 2067 has just completed a lengthy and tedious Mediation Session with the City of Norman last night at City Hall. Approaching midnight, in the 10th hour of mediation and supposition, the IAFF and the City of Norman found some solid ground on which to base a tentative agreement.

We will be discussing this agreement with the members of our bargaining unit around the stations, but we will continue to wait to post any textual information concerning the proposed settlement until the City of Norman ratifies its stance via City Council. The IAFF will then schedule a ratification vote soon afterwards with full disclosure of the settlement long before the balloting.

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Eighth Meeting

July 13, 2004 - The scheduled Negotiations meeting originally to be held today, July 13, 2004 at 2:00 p.m., has been postponed.

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Seventh Meeting

June 22, 2004 - The IAFF Negotiating Team still has enough confidence in seeing the proper channels of 'deal making' taken while continuing with negotiations in the current climate of underhandedness currently crippling the bargaining process by both City Staff and the Norman City Council. The IAFF Negotiating Team, under the direction of the entire Bargaining Unit continues to operate under the established guidelines provided to us by State & Federal law.

Today's session began with the City of Norman (CON) holding fast to its already broken promises of above-board bargaining and making diminutive moves on the HAZMAT issue in terms of Incentive Pay for those planning to be assigned to the Hazardous Materials Response Unit by raising their offer to $36.40 per man. In addition, they countered on the issue of Sick Leave Buy-Back by flipping the request to benefit only a small portion of 40 hour/wk personnel; who by the way, will not effect the upcoming years budget since no retirees are expected from that division anyway. Hence, they've stalled movement on SLBB while not meeting any of the requested measures first brought to the table by the IAFF on this topic.

The IAFF then moved swiftly in making a move on several issues as outlined below:

• SLBB: The IAFF requested that ALL IAFF personnel be granted the same percentage increase benefit as proposed by the CON for 40-hour personnel.
• WAGES: The IAFF reduced its wage offer from 2.4% ATB to 2.0% ATB.
• HAZMAT: The IAFF reduced its demand for Hazardous Materials Incentive Pay for Techs from $125.00 per month to $100.00.
• HEALTH INSURANCE: The IAFF sees no need in reducing benefits in Health Insurance as the Insurance Fund is fluid and within the previously worked upon level.
• MERIT FREEZES: The IAFF requests that the CON drop this issue immediately.

In addition, the IAFF requested to submit ideas the CON could use to save money rather than disrupt the livelihoods of countless employees for the sake of "priority", and at the same time, avoid ignoring the Legal Bargaining Process the CON is currently enjoying.

The CON returned with the following counters:

• HAZMAT: The CON increased its offer to $45.00/month.
• SLBB: The CON rejects the IAFF's request.
• WAGES: The CON remains at 0.0%.
• HEALTH INSURANCE: The CON reduces it's forced Premium Reallocation from 85%-15% to 90%-10%.
• MERIT FREEZES: The CON remains content to freeze step increases to all employees.

The next scheduled Negotiations meeting will be set for sometime during the second week in July.

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Sixth Meeting

May 17, 2004 - There seems to be a good bit of talk around the negotiating table toward the end of today's sixth round of talks. Several comments were mentioned that we are getting very close to a settlement offer and that great strides were gained in movement seen during this meeting. Unfortunately, those comments were typically made from the other side of the table from where the IAFF was sitting as most of the movement could only be claimed by our side of the table.

The following are the items the IAFF discussed/removed/countered during this meeting:

• The IAFF opened the meeting with the following responses or removals of previous negotiated items to date:
• Article 18; Holidays...REMOVED from the table.
• Article 15A; Intermediate Ranks (Rank Restructure)...REMOVED from the table.
• Article 21; Sick Leave Buy Back...The IAFF reduced it's Cap Removal Offer to a raise in the cap from 1440 to 1920 hours of sell back time to match the 24HR AFSCME language.
• Article 24; OJI...REMOVED from the table.
• Article 25; Wages...The IAFF reduced its offer from 5.5% to 2.5% ATB.
• Article 26; Health & Dental Insurance...The IAFF removes all current requests in Health Insurance and reaffirms its commitment to the Health Insurance Committee in hopes that more information can be understood and explored before any further changes occur -prior to a more in depth 'fact finding' by the future Committee.
• Article 29; Incentive Pay...HAZMAT Incentive Pay requested at $125 per month for those IAFF members holding & maintaining the HAZMAT certification currently deemed necessary in the construction of the new Hazardous Materials Response Team in our area of Oklahoma.
• Article 29A; Tuition Assistance...REMOVED from the table.
• Article 32; Union Business...REMOVED from the table.
• Random Drug Testing requested by the City...The IAFF agrees to participate fully in this program with the addition of a Physical Fitness/Wellness Program.
• Appendix A; (as it applies to) Merit Freezes...the IAFF vehemently denies the City's request for Merit Freezes and asks the City REMOVED it from the table.

The City of Norman caucused and returned with encouragement as to the movement made by the IAFF. However, the following will show disassociation with any close like-mindedness. (They returned with only one moving change. They offered to only raise the total cost reallocation of Health Insurance for a "Family", as an example, to 165% of the current cost to those employees.)

• Appendix A; (as it applies to) Merit Freezes...the City has this item in tact and currently show little sign of removing this item today.
• Article 18; Holidays...REMOVED from the table.
• Article 21; Sick Leave Buy Back...The City of Norman holds to the claim that the language in AFSCME's contract not applicable since they no longer employee 24 Hour employees. They did offer to increase the IAFF 40 HR/Week employees with a 65% sellback of the Cap if those employees reach the 25 year mark upon retirement.

The IAFF Countered with a 65% of 1440 for 24Hr members as well upon reaching the 25 year retirement date.

• Article 29; Incentive Pay...The City would like to ponder this cost further and reserves the opportunity to speak directly with the Fire Chief on the issue of HAZMAT Incentive Pay upon hearing it would be a distinct possibility that there would be no team if there is no pay.
• Random Drug Testing...REMOVED from the table. But requests further study on the previous counter made by the IAFF on the definition of a Wellness/Fitness Program.
• Article 25; Wages...The City of Norman hold firm to a 0% wage offer.
• Article 26; Health & Dental Insurance...The City's previous Premium Reallocation of 80/20 for Employee Premiums was reduced to 85/15. The City is holding firm at the end of today's meeting with Premium Reallocations.

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Fifth Meeting

May 3, 2004 - This fifth session of negotiations saw more of the same in terms of the City attempting to support the need for Health Insurance Benefit reductions and wage recessions. The CON is continuing to require merit freezes in addition to Health Insurance Premium Reallocations. Neither of which the IAFF is willing to accept at this time.

The IAFF is currently working on language that will help in rendering finality to various smaller issues that will hopefully fault negotiations closer toward an end. However, if the CON wishes to maintain their course of wage reductions and benefit changes to the extent already discussed, we will find ourselves, once again, in the lap of judicial prudence once again. Either action will be met nonetheless with equal resolve.

The IAFF continued to investigate the method and end result of the CON's pessimistic outlook in the FY05-08 budget years. Finding it difficult to get a full grasp of every issue leaves the negotiating team with little but common sense in responding to these projected figures. The bulk of the meeting time was used to ask/answer questions about the upcoming fiscal budget.

The next scheduled session will be at 10:00 a.m., May 17, 2004. A prior Negotiating Team Meeting will be held in the Mid-town Union office on May 13, at 8:00 a.m.

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Fourth Meeting

April 23, 2004 - The fourth Negotiations Session between the IAFF Local 2067 and the City of Norman (CON) was held this morning. Very little 'head-way' was made. However, below are some highlights of the various topics touched upon in this short meeting:

• The IAFF asked for the most current Bond Prospectus Report and most current audit in order to put the IAFF closer into a position in which to respond to or counter propose the City on economic issues.

• The IAFF also is preparing a "counter" to the city's "counter" on the Holiday issue.

• The IAFF also agreed to, and signed off on, changing the word "Addendum" to "Appendix" in the contract at Article 25.

• The CON withdrew its wage reduction proposal and now offer a 0%. They still maintain "merit freezes" as an explorable option.

• The IAFF will respond to the 0% wage proposal once it receives the above mentioned information.

• The IAFF responds to the "Random Drug Testing" as a doable scenario in coupling RDT with a "Wellness Program" and a "Infectious Disease Program".

• The CON still demands changes to the Health Insurance Program. They are asking, once again, for a premium allocation and tweaks to the benefit package. The CON seems to be teetering on UFL practices in bargaining again for the same item that last years arbitrator claimed was a loosing cause for the CON. The CON still insists the IAFF can leave the plan if they so choose. (Albeit under guidelines that are unreachable at best.)

In summary, and in the words of City Staff themselves, it appears the City Manager "Proposed a budget it can't afford." Unfortunately, the same City Manager feels the IAFF should suffer the consequences as a result of it.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., May 3rd.

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Third Meeting

April 2, 2004 - The IAFF began negotiations today by submitting a list of presently known items that it would like to discuss in the upcoming meetings. The list included, but was not limited to, the following items:

IAFF PROPOSALS

1. Article 21, Sick Leave: Discussed was a proposal by the IAFF to remove the cap associated with 'sick leave buyback' upon leave of employment from the City of Norman.

2. Rank Restructure: Discussed was the same proposal submitted for discussion concerning the addition of language and added mid-ranking of additional positions as has begun in the development of the "Relief Driver" position.

3. Appendix A, Pay Plan: Submitted was an across-the-board pay increase of 5.5%.

4. Article 18, Holidays: Submitted was the re-classification of Christmas, Christmas Eve, & Good Friday as was the form prior to its change in FY01.

5. Health Insurance Committee: Discussed was the plan to re-implement the Insurance Committee.

6. Hazardous Materials Implementation & Incentive Pay: Clarifying again the forewarning that future discussions on Incentive Pay will need to be addressed prior to the Departments implementation of a HAZMAT Operations Team.

7. Article 29A, Tuition Assistance: Addressed was the problem of "lack of funding" in various situations and how best to maintain a fund balance to meet all of the needs of those applying for this Assistance in any given year.

CITY OF NORMAN PROPOSALS

The City of Norman returned from caucus with the following as responses to the above suggested items of discussion outlined by the IAFF:

• Article 18, Holidays: The City introduced a newly revised plan to allow each individual employee the option of adopting the holiday of his/her choice and to request either time off, Holiday Pay, or bonus money equal to the hours paid to be paid at the end of the year if not used.

• (Article 15) Rank Restructure: The City will need time to visit with City Leaders and NFD Department heads in order to respond.

• Article 21, Sick Leave: The City would like time to review/research the current/past use of sick leave in order to develop a cost analysis for this item.

• (Article 26) Health Insurance Committee: The City claims that next Thursday, April 8, 2004, they will begin to discuss ideas in order to reinstate the Insurance Committee... ("in a way that will work for everyone?" --We can't be sure that will be the resolve of the committee, but it never hurts to be optimistic.)

• Article 29A, Tuition Assistance: The City will need to obtain some usage information from Fire Administration in order to address this issue.

The City then spoke of the issues that concerned them. They began by explaining the City's projected 3.4 million dollar deficit for FY05; deficit being the difference between FY05 Budget and Projected Expenditures. Based on this projection, the City asked the IAFF to weigh the following as lead-in items for consideration:

1. Freezing Merit Increases; saving the City of Norman $250,000.00.

2. Implementing last years negotiations proposal on Health Insurance changes (as was lost in Arbitration by the City) to a savings of $330,000.00.

3. Wages: The City "may" be asking for a wage reduction.

4. A Drug Testing Program to be implemented.

5. Article 36: Change in the Duration of the Contract.

The IAFF will return with responses to the City's Proposals at the next meeting.

The next Negotiating Meeting has yet to be scheduled.

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Second Meeting

January 30, 2004 - The IAFF Local 2067 second meeting in negotiations took place at 10:00 a.m. today in the multi-purpose room.

One item of discussion revolved around the purposed language in this years "ground rules" concerning the newest involvement of David Carnevale, Ph.D. and Kay Ham, MHR to serving as mediative and/or facilitative capacitors. While the subject was explained in some detail by both City Staff and the aforementioned participants, it was decided that the current added language simply did not explain the role in which the mediators would play as sufficiently as they could explain it orally during this discussion. The IAFF welcomed their presence and looks forward to any help they could give during this process, aside from any language felt needed to explain their role.

The IAFF further continued by requesting information on health insurance Plan Documents & Description, Insurance Contracts, and Annual Reports to help the bargaining unit formulate proposals on Health Insurance; if the need should so warrant. It was so offered by the City that they will attempt to obtain this information and give amply time for review prior to the bargaining teams opportunity to meet again to discuss them.

This above item was soon brought to the discussion of the reinstatement of the Insurance Committee. No formal proposals were made at this time about this issue.

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Ground Rules Meeting

January 16, 2004 - The first Negotiations Meeting between the City and the IAFF for the FY05 Contract year was held today in the multipurpose room in the City Hall. This meeting was primarily used to set the ground rules for this years negotiations. As previously stated prior to the start of negotiations this year, the Union sent their letter of intent to negotiate to the City Manager on January 5th in accordance with State Law, as always.

Added to the 'ground rules' this year was the inclusion of the attendance allowed to David Carnevale, Ph.D. and Kay Ham, MHR to "serve as mediative, facilitative capacity." And, while the City opted to include, "but is not limited to holding individual caucuses with Union Negotiators or City Negotiators, sidebars with any party, and other means they deem necessary to assist parties in achieving mutually acceptable agreement", that could change as direction of Union Attorney, Jim Moore, will quite possibly made adjustments to the role, at least in formality, in which these two observers will take during negotiations.