New contract for Chicago firefighters (more)

The Chicago Tribune recently published an article detailing the progress of a new contract for Chicago firefighters. The proposed agreement, which was approved by the City Council’s Workforce Development and Audit Committee, includes an 11% pay raise over five years. This deal has already been supported by the rank-and-file firefighters and emergency medical personnel in Firefighters Union Local 2, and it is now set to be voted on by the full City Council next week. Ald. Michele Smith, representing the 43rd Ward, praised the deal, saying, “I couldn’t think of a person in America who wouldn’t enjoy that kind of wage increase.” She emphasized the importance of reaching an agreement rather than facing potential strikes, while also acknowledging the financial impact on the city. Joseph Franczek, the city’s outside labor attorney, noted that firefighters could have received even higher raises if the matter had gone to arbitration. However, this deal marks the lowest firefighter wage increase since 1981. “I would submit to you that this is really a pretty reasonable agreement,” he said. The total cost to the city over the five-year period is $80 million, covering 4,645 firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and emergency medical personnel. The contract runs through June 2017 and is retroactive to June 30, 2012, meaning the city will need to pay $27.6 million in back pay this year. According to city spokeswoman Kelley Quinn, those funds were already budgeted. This year's negotiations are different from past years, as the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) contract was typically negotiated first, setting a precedent for other unions. However, this time around, the firefighters' union came first, and talks with the FOP are still ongoing, with a possible conclusion expected in the fall. Additionally, the agreement includes plans to convert 15 basic life support ambulances into advanced life support units by next year, increasing the number of advanced ambulances to 75 daily. Firefighters who are also EMTs will receive small increases in their "incentive" pay, though those hired after January 1, 2024, will need to work longer before qualifying. Retirees aged 55 to 60 who retire this year will now be required to contribute 2% of their monthly retirement checks toward health insurance costs until they become eligible for Medicare. Currently, the city covers all of these costs. One important condition of the pay raise is tied to the city’s underfunded pension systems. If the state enacts new pension reforms that increase firefighter pension contributions beyond the current 9.125%, the union will have the right to reopen the contract to discuss wages. This highlights the ongoing challenges surrounding public employee pensions in Chicago. Thanks, Dan.

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