Firefighters get pay raise

The City Council voted 4-1 on Nov. 21 to approve an agreement with city firefighters for raises, benefits and programs through June 2011.

Pay increases were made retroactive to Nov. 6, three days after representatives of the firefighters union signed the memorandum of understanding.

Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider voted against the agreement because she wanted the raise made retroactive to June 30.

“I hoped it would be a five-year contract,” Pearson-Schneider said. “If we make the pay retroactive to July 1, that would be a five-year contract.”

However, no second was made on her motion and no one from the public or the union spoke at the hearing.

The agreement provides for an 11% salary increase for the remainder of fiscal year 2006-07 and increases of 5% in each of the following four years. The initial, 11% increase moves the salaries into the median pay area of the county’s fire agencies, city officials said.

Cost of the raise this year is estimated to be $400,000.

Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding, the firefighters will transition to the same insurance benefit package as the Municipal Employees and Police Employees association members, starting Jan. 1.

The city will continue to pay 100% of the medical care of firefighters enrolled in the Blue Shield POS plan. Retirees who have been employed by the city for three years will be offered the option of continuing in the city plan, but will pay for their entire premiums.

Employed firefighters with dependents will pay 25% of the premiums. Medical and dental care will be provided for domestic partners under the same terms as other dependents.

Starting in July 2010, the city will establish a $25,000 fund to be used for certification pay, to be allocated to eligible employees, and reserve another $25,000 to study ways to establish shift battalion chiefs, two of the association’s key goals.

A resolution ratifying the memorandum of understanding also specifies procedures for informal or formal grievances, disciplinary action or layoffs. Vacations, holiday and sick leave allowances are also spelled out in the resolution.

The full text is available on the city’s web site: www.lagunabeachcity.net.