Binding arbitration award ends wait between Wilkes-Barre and firefighters’ union

Sep. 11--WILKES-BARRE -- A panel of arbitrators issued a give-and-take award to the city and its firefighters late last month, increasing wages, but eliminating the $1,500 they've been getting for years to match a payment to police.

The binding arbitration award issued Aug. 30 had long-term impacts beyond the four years of pay hikes and affected the benefits of the 13 new firefighters last month and future hires.

The three-member panel of arbitrators got rid of the annual Act 120 payments made in accord with a clause in their union contract giving them parity pay increases with the police, and removed the sick leave payout and post-employment life insurance for firefighters hired after Jan. 1 of this year.

Mayor Tony George on Tuesday was satisfied with the award that he said ended a nine-month wait for a resolution with Local 104 of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

"It was fair on both sides," George said.

President of the firefighters union Mike Bilski had a different take.

"The arbitrator did his job," Bilski said. "It's not really want we wanted. We'll live with it."

The union had been working under the terms of an agreement that expired last year and the mayor's budget for this year did not include a pay hike.

But the award bumped up the hourly wage by 70 cents this year and boosted it by 2.5 percent in 2020 and 3 percent in 2021 and 2022. The increases equaled those given to the other unions representing City Hall and Department of Public Works employees who agreed to new contracts this year. The only remaining contract to be ironed out was the police union's that expires at the end of the year.

The award also established a gradual rise for new firefighters to reach full pay after five years. The first year started at 70 percent of the starting salary and stepped up annually with 75 percent, 80 percent, 90 percent and 100 percent.

The mayor did not disclose how the salary increases would be covered in his final budget for 2020. George lost the Democrat primary in May to former city councilman George Brown, who's unopposed in the November general election.

"That's what we're working on," George said as he gets ready to present his proposed budget by mid October.

This year's budget included a line item of $3,453,560 in salaries for 63 firefighters. But there were approximately 55 working due to the loss of 17 firefighters mainly through retirements. As a result overtime exceeded the budgeted amount as firefighters worked extra hours to meet the minimum staffing level of 11 per shift.

The elimination of the Act 120 payment will provide some savings. It was budgeted at $78,000 this year. But that falls short of the $145,000 a year the mayor estimated it costs the city in wages and benefits for a single firefighter.

The award contained additional modifications that could lead to cost savings:

--It waived the parity clause with the police and put the brakes on matching raises only during the four years from Jan. 1, 2019 through the end of 2022.

--Effective Jan. 1, 2020, it gave all bargaining unit members no less than 12 paid holidays and took away the six additional days off granted to those hired after Jan. 1, 2004.

--The city was given the right to choose the health insurance provider. In addition, the monthly premium contribution had no cap placed on it. The percentage of the monthly premium to be paid depended on the date of hire. For those hired before Nov. 27, 2017, the percentage started at 10 percent this year, increased to 11 percent in 2021 and 12 percent in 2022. The schedule remained the same for those hired after Nov. 27, 2017, 20 percent in the first year, 15 percent in the second and 12 percent in the third.

Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.

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