City, fire union reach tentative contract agreement
The announcement constitutes a major step for the city and the union, which started negotiations on
Now, the end is in sight. But another step remains.
A joint statement from Mayor
"We have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for our Firefighters," reads the statement. "Leadership will take the agreement to members of Local 396 for a ratification vote on
"We are excited to have a tentative agreement and look forward to working together to continue
No specifics about the contract have been released. City officials declined to comment further on the agreement, and Frazier could not be reached for comment.
Public debate over the negotiations first reached a fever pitch in
The grievance related specifically to the city's denial of a request for arbitration. It was ultimately denied by the
On
The decision was arguably the most significant public development in what had by then already become a publicly contentious clash over a process that began in June and by the end of 2017 included at least eight private meetings.
It also meant that
At the center of the court dispute was whether Local 396 had requested arbitration in a timely manner, and Hopkins ruled the union's leadership had not followed a city ordinance that requires arbitration to be requested with a 45-day window.
Notably, the union's appeal of Hopkins' ruling, currently at the
The dispute, however, took its most contentious and public turn on
Many in the crowd represented local
Goodnight responded to the rally in an interview with Indiana Public Media, saying Local 396 was previously adamant about receiving a 15 percent raise over three years.
That statement differed from those made by union officials, who said at the rally they were only looking for health insurance "parity" with the
"When we compare their wages and benefits package with the surrounding areas and even other second-class cities, they're usually in the top tier in all aspects, whether it be vacation days, holidays, general pay and even retiree benefits and health care," said Goodnight at the time.
"They are without a contract, but it's because of their own doing -- their inability to either read or comprehend the ordinance, which was written in the 1970s."
The rally came after the union one day earlier rejected a contract offer from city officials. The offer, according to a document left on the chairs of City
Also included were a "no layoff" guarantee and an increase in retiree health care benefits from a
The flyer, printed with a city of
At the rally, Frazier said the issue wasn't about raises -- he said his union would accept a zero-zero-zero raise structure over the next three years -- but is instead about health insurance benefits.
Right now, fire union officials are "asking for parity with the police department on retirees' health insurance and active health insurance," said Frazier. He said increased premiums have eaten up any raises given to local firefighters, especially those who live outside of
"If I have a firefighter who doesn't live in the city, he's paying
At the first negotiation session, in June, the union presented the city with more than 80 proposals to modify the contract, according to city records. But it's so far unclear what was agreed upon in the contract agreement announced Wednesday.
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