FIRE LINES

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PROPOSED CONTRACT AGREEMENTS

This document is a summary of the proposed changes in the contract agreements between the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters, I.A.F.F. Local 122, for (1) Firefighters-Captains and (2) Fire District Chiefs.  This document addresses proposed changes only.  Articles not mentioned will remain as currently written.

Please note these proposed agreements are contingent upon the City and the Police & Fire Pension Fund reaching an agreement on pension reform and/or cost reduction measures.

Proposed changes are as follows:

ARTICLE 3 – UNION ACTIVITIES

Section 3.3 was changed to clarify the allocation of hours to the Union Time Pool.  This change does not affect current practice.

ARTICLE 11 – HOURS OF WORK AND OVERTIME PAYMENT

Proposed changes to Article 11 apply to the Firefighter-Captain agreement only.

Section 11.3 was changed to provide for the addition of “D” and “E” shifts.  Essentially, these are weekend shifts designed to reduce overtime on Saturdays and Sundays.  Assignment to these shifts is voluntary and is restricted to the rank of Firefighter.

Employees assigned to “D” shift would work Saturdays and Mondays.  Employees assigned to “E” shift would work Fridays and Sundays.  One additional shift would have to be worked by employees on either shift during each 27-day cycle.  The additional shift would be at the employee’s discretion.

Employees on “D” or “E” shift who wish to be transferred back to a traditional shift shall be reassigned within 30 days of their request.

ARTICLE 12 – WAGES

Section 12.1 would be changed as follows:

a.    Effective October 1, 2009 (FY2009-2010), no salary change.
b.    Effective October 1, 2010 (FY2010-2011), 2% salary reduction.
c.    Effective October 1, 2011 (FY2011-2012), no salary change (salaries remain at FY2010-2011 levels).
d.    Effective September 30, 2012 (last day of FY2011-2012), 2% salary increase (salaries will be returned to FY2009-2010 levels) provided that negotiations for a successor agreement are concluded no later than July 1, 2012.  Additional provisions to safeguard against stalling tactics by the City are also included in this section.
e.    Step movement will continue throughout the term of the agreement.

The Union agreed to the salary reductions for FY2010-2011 and FY2011-2012 with the specific provision that demotions and layoffs scheduled for July 2, 2010, are cancelled and an additional provision that there will be no layoffs or demotions through September 30, 2012.

ARTICLE 13 – PROMOTIONS

Section 13.7 was changed to clarify when the City is required to administer a promotional examination.  Previously, the requirement was based on the expiration date of a promotional list.  The new language bases the requirement on the date an opening is available.

Section 13.11 was changed to clarify demotion procedure.   This change does not affect current practice.

ARTICLE 14 – EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Section 14.7 was changed to provide that employees will pay 5% of the cost of their individual premium for comprehensive group medical insurance, effective January 1, 2011.  Please note this is 5% of the premium amount, not 5% of salary.

Note:  On July 13, 2010, the Union was informed that the City will offer individual coverage for the high-deductible comprehensive group medical insurance plan at no cost to the employee.  The proposed contract agreement will be amended accordingly.

ARTICLE 18 – HOLIDAYS

Section 18.2 and 18.3 were changed to allocate Holiday hours on a calendar year basis instead of a fiscal year basis.

Section 18.12 was changed to alter the election dates for payment or banking of Holiday hours to coincide with the changes in 18.2 and 18.3, and the payment dates, if that option was elected, from December of the current year to January of the following year.  These changes are required to remain in compliance with IRS regulations.

ARTICLE 19 – PERSONAL LEAVE (PLAN E)

Section 19.5 was changed to remove outdated language and to clarify election dates for payment or banking of personal leave hours for employees on Personal Leave Plan E.

ARTICLE 25 – GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

Throughout the article, references to 5 business or working days have been changed to 10 business or working days.

ARTICLE 28 – DURATION OF AGREEMENT

Dates were changed to reflect the agreement will be for the period from October 1, 2009, through September 30, 2012.
 

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INFORMATION SESSIONS

We have scheduled three (3) informational sessions to provide you with an opportunity to review the proposed contract agreement and to answer any questions you may have.  These sessions will be held at Firefighter's Hall on August 17, 18, & 19, 2010, beginning at 8:30 a.m. each day.