Firefighter: Even with raise, plan costly to union members [Portsmouth Daily Times, Ohio]

Nov. 29--With rumors on the street that members of IAFF Local 512 (Fire Department) are asking for a 12.5 percent salary increase, an anonymous source within that union is revealing what he says is the real story about the current negotiations with the city.

The firefighters are in the midst of negotiations, so the source spoke to the Portsmouth Daily Times under the condition of anonymity.

The source said the union asked Portsmouth Mayor David Malone what figure he needs from the Fire Department "to get this job done." The source said Malone told them he needs $300,000, which would be a third of the city's budget, despite the fact the Fire Department's budget is not one-third of the city's budget.

"We sat down, and with the Chief's (Bill Raison) assistance, came up with $320,000 in give-backs to the city," the source said. "This was with the Chief's help in his budget. The union's part of that was about $120,000 that we would give back. Over a five-year period, that would add up to over $700,000. The Fire Department, with the union is trying to give back to the city and the Mayor said no. Originally he (Mayor) said $300,000. We gave him $320,000 for next year. He said no deal. He flat-out said yes in one meeting. And the very next meeting said no."

The source told the Times the offer was made prior to the passage of the city income tax increase. He said there had been people who supported Senate Bill 5 who had proposed the city should not pay the employees' pension.

"Right now the city pays 10 percent, our share of the pension, because over the years, in lieu of pay raises" he said. "It was cheaper for the city to pay that and cheaper for us. It was more money in our pocket. We came up this time and we said, 'OK, we will pick that up ourselves. We will pay that 10 percent.'"

The source told the Times they had negotiated, over the last several years, 120 hours of vacation sell-back in lieu of raises.

"We also offered to pay that back. We offered to give that to them," he said. "We offered to pay $300 for insurance a month. We cut our clothing allowance back. We offered to do all of these things. Our checks were actually going backwards with the 12.5 percent increase we came in the back door and added. Our check is still going backwards."

The member of Local 512 said that while firefighters would be getting a 12.5 percent salary increase, paychecks would not be growing at the same rate. In fact, he said, checks would be less.

"I am making less money by the week -- by the month -- by the year," he said. "I am going backwards with our proposal."

"There's a lot of people with a whole lot less qualifications that we have making a whole hell of a lot more money," the source said." The Portsmouth Fire Department has a union, and we have always taken the city's best interest. We have negotiated fairly and honestly. This is the first time in history with negotiations with the City of Portsmouth that we're offering these types of concessions and they're not taking them. He wants more."

Malone said Monday he would not speak on the record about any of the charges made by the union since he is in negotiations with that union.

FRANK LEWIS may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.

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