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Billings FF's ink Contract
BILLINGS (AP) - City firefighters have agreed to a three-year
contract that includes a 4.3 percent pay raise retroactive to July
1, 2002.
The firefighters have been working without a contract for almost
a year.
The new pact also calls for a 4.3 percent raise for the fiscal
year beginning this July 1 and a raise in 2004 of not less than 2
percent.
Human Resources Manager Rick Harden said Thursday the agreement
also calls for firefighters to chose one of three health insurance
plans and to share health insurance costs with the city, mirroring
plans offered to Billings police and the Teamsters.
Under previous contracts, the city paid all health care
premiums, said Jaime Mertz, president of International Association
of Fire Fighters, Local 521.
Firefighters approved the contract Tuesday. The Billings City
Council is to vote on the contract during its meeting June 23.
"Both sides are pleased with the results," Harden said. "We
appreciated the firefighters' willingness to address the medical
insurance issue."
"I'm surprised we have an agreement this soon," Mertz said.
"Having the city at the table with Rick and (acting city
administrator Kristoff) Bauer there meant decisions could be made
at the table where before we couldn't make decisions there."
Harden said he looked forward to a return to normalcy in
relations with the firefighters.
The 4.3 percent increases will bring the firefighters pay on par
with other city employees.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
contract that includes a 4.3 percent pay raise retroactive to July
1, 2002.
The firefighters have been working without a contract for almost
a year.
The new pact also calls for a 4.3 percent raise for the fiscal
year beginning this July 1 and a raise in 2004 of not less than 2
percent.
Human Resources Manager Rick Harden said Thursday the agreement
also calls for firefighters to chose one of three health insurance
plans and to share health insurance costs with the city, mirroring
plans offered to Billings police and the Teamsters.
Under previous contracts, the city paid all health care
premiums, said Jaime Mertz, president of International Association
of Fire Fighters, Local 521.
Firefighters approved the contract Tuesday. The Billings City
Council is to vote on the contract during its meeting June 23.
"Both sides are pleased with the results," Harden said. "We
appreciated the firefighters' willingness to address the medical
insurance issue."
"I'm surprised we have an agreement this soon," Mertz said.
"Having the city at the table with Rick and (acting city
administrator Kristoff) Bauer there meant decisions could be made
at the table where before we couldn't make decisions there."
Harden said he looked forward to a return to normalcy in
relations with the firefighters.
The 4.3 percent increases will bring the firefighters pay on par
with other city employees.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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