Cedar Falls firefighters seek 3 percent raise, same health coverage

Dec. 18--CEDAR FALLS -- Unionized city firefighters have proposed a 3 percent pay increase and no changes in health insurance in their initial collective bargaining proposals with the city.

Members of Cedar Falls Firefighters Association Local 1366 also said they would be agreeable to a three-year contract. The current deal expires June 30. Firefighters proposed no other changes to the existing agreement.

"The members this year wanted to bring forward a good-faith initial proposal," firefighters association president Jim Cook said.

City officials responded by initially proposing a 1 percent pay increase and employees pay 25 percent of health insurance premiums. Bargaining unit employees currently pay 10 percent of premium costs, up to $30 a month on single coverage and $85 per month on family coverage. The city's proposal two weeks ago to unionized city police and parks and public works employees is identical. Those employee groups initially proposed a 5 percent annual pay increase and no changes in health insurance.

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The firefighters initial proposal included an option for either party to reopen wages and insurance if the Legislature "makes changes to the negotiability of health insurance, mandates state health insurance or if the city is subject to the 'Cadillac Tax' for health insurance coverage."

Mike Galloway of the Ahlers law firm of Des Moines representing the city said, "I think this is a very reasonable proposal, initial proposal, from the fire union. We really appreciate that." He also said the city would be open to a multi-year agreement on acceptable terms.

Firefighters are coming off a three-year contract under which they received pay raises of 2 percent, 2.5 percent and 2.5 percent each of the three years. There are 18 employees in the bargaining unit. Annual pay ranges from $42,588 for a beginning firefighter to top pay of $58,442.

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