City, firefighters agree that radical changes in wages, pensions, new contract "

City, firefighters agree that radical changes in wages, pensions, new contract "

Jackson, MI – hailed as a step towards sustainability and improvement ted Della Jackson Fire Department, Fire Department and the city have “radical changes” agreed in salaries and pensions for new employees in a contrattoI firefighters

announced Friday. Contract strengthens their feeling ted division and with a grant may be extended by the Federal. City leaderprevediamo save hundreds ted thousands ted dollars in salaries ridottie restructured pension scheme for new employees.

“Questacrea a structure that is financially sustainable for the short Terminee a roadmap on how to proceed in the future,” said City Manager Larry. Shaffer

The new four-year contract – by the Jackson City Council approved Tuesday and Thursday Firefighters Union – means that the city set a nearly $ 1.9 million federal grant for more firefighters

accepted.

“It was an emotional roller coaster,” Tom Love Berry, firefighter union president, said in recent weeks. “(Fire) veramentesentire that this is more ted a four-year contract. Nostravigili This strengthens the fire.”

The old contract expires Saturday. The new contract begins on Sunday.

Under the new contract, salary for new firefighters coming back over 10 years and pension contributions by the city, almost cut in half. The pagascala and the structure remains the same pension for existing employees. Avigile Rookie ted the fire department at the Jackson circa36 thousand dollars and will cost the city about $ 60,000 with benefits according to city and fire tedficials. The Fire Department has about $ 45,000 under the vecchiocontratto and cost the city about $ 95,000.

In just wages, the ci ty could save $ 100,000 a year by 2014 and $ 160 000 per year by 2016, said Shaffer.

‘s four-year contract requires that all firefighters pay 20 percent delpremio for their health insurance. For retirees, firefighters hired before 1 July 2012 will pay 10 percent ted their premiums and 20 percent if you were hired after secondoun press release from the city. Wage increases ted 2 percent per year and reducing by 0.5 percent compared to four-year contract.

The new contract reduced from 10 to seven the number ted brigades fuocobisogno perform a half-step too small gene-Diemer Emergency Medical Department. Assistant Commissioner David Wood said Loveberry and seven firefighters will be hired unspostamento with additional staff to the federal grant possible. The execution ted the rescue truck to save money and bring less usurail department is larger, more expensive cars and city streets.

“It was a great concession on our part,” said Loveberry modification rescue truck.

The negotiations on the new contract, described as beginning “is not always beautiful,” nelserio in February. Loveberry met one-on-one with Shaffer and most partemembri Council, their concerns and voice to the fire department claims to be heard. Everyone involved said it was a different and rinfrescanteapproccio the negotiation ted contracts. After nine hours ted maratona21 June the contract was canceled.

Loveberry said that said the starting salary with salaries in other ècoerenti stato.Shaffer fire department, the city modeled its wage structure TownshipVigili the Summit Fire. Non-wood and Loveberry were interested in starting bassos tipendio would bring the quality department. Legnonon to problems ted supply ted new positions ted high quality anticipate localecandidati.

News

that the department has a $ 1875.156000 SAFER (Staffing for adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Grant delFederal Emergency Management Agency was taken late in the negotiations, and said Loveberry Shaffer. The City Council reached a contrattoaccordo obliged to accept the grant money. Love Berry said firefighters fuocoavrebbe probably signed the agreement without the advice legandoloa. Grant

“It was not really a carrot and stick,” said Councillor Andrew Frounfelker.

Frounfelker

, Loveberry, wood, and Shaffer, said the agreement included a nuovarapporto between firefighters and the city selected. All were agree and acrimoniadiffidenza between the city and the fire department in the past. Ilprocesso contract has brought the two sides and clarify the city and department goals. Neither side felt safe with the human resources correntelivello fire or stable under the present conditions. Shafferchiamato the agreement a “breakthrough.” Love Berry said that the moral contrattoimpulso station. said

Loveberry ted hope cheattraverso savings in the first two years ted the contract is to leave the city, the fire department to obtain additional staff quandola grant ends . The new contract provides that each brigade could fuocoassunti the grant their jobs end up losing.

Mayor Martin Griffin said that the contract is a fair wage and benefits p ackage, which the city is positioned for the future.

“I think it is a very positive step forward for us,” Griffin said. “For the city to stop work futurocosti and pension obligations.

‘E’ for realistic times. And ‘what needs to be done. “

not drive the new contract all the disputed points or disaccordotra the city and the fire department. Current City Council’s decision to merge the guidance ted police and fire brigade is considering legal personality ted the Union team, said Loveberry. He said ynyl past, the fire brigade brings headed diJackson Police Chief Matt Heins creates a Department ted Public Safety enone by the Charter ted the City is allowed.

“We believe it is a violation ted the Charter bella chiara” said Loveberry. “We’re going to go perseguireche. We must always protect us, but this is not a pressanteproblema. “

With the addition ted firefighters under the grant agreement if ilquestione said chiesto.Wooden once a fire station likely it is something that regard in the future, but has not made a decision about them. Shaffer said that” not crazy “about reopening a fire station, but for those who the

can be heard -. to contact Aaron Aupperlee at (517) 262-2967 or aaupperl@mlive.com .. Follow him on Twitter @ tinynotebook