New Haven alders to air proposal to extend fire union contract

Oct. 30--NEW HAVEN -- A two-year extension of the city's contract with firefighters union Local 825 is on the table for the Board of Alders and the proposal will be the focus of a public hearing Thursday night before the aldermanic Finance Committee.

The extension from 2016 to 2018 includes annual across-the-board wage increases of 2.5 percent, a shift in the promotional exam weighting system to 65 percent oral and 35 percent written and a medical benefits change that will see the city pick up 50 percent of medical insurance deductibles, down from 65 percent in 2015.

The union ratified the terms of the extension on Sept. 26 but the agreement also would need approval by the Board of Alders.

In a memo sent to alders earlier this month, Labor Relations Director Marcus Paca noted the 2.5 percent raises would cost about $1.4 million over the 2-year extension

"We feel this cost is warranted and will pay for itself over the life of the extension," Paca wrote. "In the first year of the contract, savings are expected to be approximately $800,000, with an estimated savings of $820,000 for the second year."

Paca pointed to low staffing levels as he biggest factor behind the department's weekly $170,000 overtime bill. According to Paca, the city has spent nearly $9 million on overtime over the last 12 months.

Paca's memo notes that the department staff has decreased by 100 members.

The city is projected to graduate three recruit classes by early 2016.

"Not only does this contract extension help keep New Haven residents safer by adding to the ranks, it has helped thaw relations with the fire union for effective and productive work moving forward," Paca added.

A recent memo by city independent Financial Review and Audit Commission Vice Chairman Joseph Dolan addressed the overtime problems plaguing the department. Dolan said in the memo that a "protracted background check process" is contributing to the lengthy time it takes to seat new classes of fire recruits.

"Currently these checks are done in-house by the Police Department," Dolan wrote. "The city should seriously consider outsourcing this service. Overtime savings would more than offset the cost."

The city budget allocates $3.9 million for overtime for the current fiscal year. Latest projections from the city Management and Budget Office estimate the department will spend another $4.2 million.

The weights of promotional tests have been subject to racial controversies and federal lawsuits over the years, beginning with the landmark Ricci v. DeStefano lawsuit that went to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2009, firefighter Michael Briscoe sued the city, claiming he was unfairly passed over for a promotion after achieving the highest score on the oral portion but scoring a 59 on the written section.

Briscoe claimed the test was racially biased. The U.S. District Court dismissed his case but a successful appeal in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals returned Briscoe's case to U.S. District Court, where it was again dismissed. Briscoe was set to appeal that decision again but the city settled with him for $285,000 and agreed to transfer him to a full-time position as director of the city's Public Safety Communications 911 call center.

The move sparked a lawsuit from the fire union but the extension agreement hammered out with Harp's administration would end the grievance, according to an Oct. 10 memorandum of understanding signed by Paca and union President Lt. James Kottage.

The Board of Alders has until Nov. 10 to vote on whether to approve the contract extension.

If the deadline were missed, the agreement would automatically become "legally binding and valid," according to Paca.

Call Evan Lips at 203-680-9367.

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