Toledo's fire union approves contract

DOWNTOWN TOLEDO - After two days of voting, members of Toledo Firefighters Union Local 92 approved a contract deal Thursday afternoon with the Finkbeiner administration, despite the fact that it will take some money out of their pockets.

An estimated 356 firefighters voted, about 78%, according to union officials. The contract passed by a 60-40 margin.

The contract will now be reviewed and ratified upon Tuesday, July 28, by city council.

Toledo Fire Capt. Jim Martin, president of the fire union, and Mayor Carty Finkbeiner approved the tentative contract July 16.

"Once again it shows Toledo, firefighters we're willing to step up and do their fair share," Capt. Martin said. "Given the set of circumstances that we have to deal with at the present time that this is the best deal we could come up with."

This agreement with Local 92 and the Finkbeiner administration follows the late June agreement and early July ratification with the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association and the city.

"I appreciate the support of Toledo Firefighters Local 92 in approving a labor contract," Mayor Finkbeiner said in a statement. "We are now one step closer to resolving our budget deficit. City Council requested the administration to negotiate concession to help balance the budget."

"With the help of our Local 7 AFSME Union, TPPA and Local 92 Firefighters we did that," the mayor added. "City Council will be briefed and vote on this contract Tuesday. The concessions provided in this contract, are appreciated, and I thank the Local 92 membership for their willingness to help our community during this economic downturn."

Council President Joe McNamara said with the police contract passing a few weeks ago, the city will need the firefighters contract to pass in order to balance budget.

Despite the city mired in a 15% unemployment rate, sacrifices need to be made.

"You have so many people out of work - having a job right now is a good thing," Councilman McNamara said. "Working in the city of Toledo under this contract, the benefits are good - your family is covered under health insurance, you're getting a good salary. We just can't afford raises right now."

Union firefighters told FOX Toledo News before the voting window ended that the new contract may help the city in the long-run, but they're concerned it won't help them at all.

The new contract includes a reduction in pension payments by the city, forcing firefighters to pay for some of their health care. There's also a reduction in overtime.

Some city firefighters said they understand the Glass City is dealing with tough times, but they need to survive, too.

The three-year deal includes a decrease in pension contribution by the city, health insurance contributions by the firefighters and a decrease in fire overtime - all conditions that 40% of the firefighters who voted did not agree with.

"Everyone that was opposed had their own concerns," Capt. Martin said. "There might be 144 different reasons out there."

But with such high job loss numbers, the city's bottom line has taken a beating this year.

"It's certainly not the best contract ever but we're in some times where we aren't going to get the best contract ever," the fire union president said.

This three-year deal does assume 40 new firefighters will be hired next year, which will significantly cut down on fire overtime. Those savings would help with the city's deficit that voters will decide on this September in the 3/4-percent income tax "Safety First Plan."

If passed in September, the measure is a change that will take about $4 million off the deficit. It still doesn't do the job, but firefighters feel like they've done their part.

"This isn't the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last time, but usually you get recognition for it immediately than six months later people forget what you did for them," Capt. Martin said.

If the fire contract is ratified by council July 28, Councilman McNamara said it will save the city several million dollars, making room for the city's administration to hire a new firefighter class in 2010.

"I think it needs to pass and we need to move on and finish negotiating the contract with the police command, and continue to make responsible decisions that put public safety first," Councilman McNamara said.
 

 

(FOX Toledo's Sharia Davis and Shaun Hegarty contributed to this report)