Firefighters agree to forgo salary and cost of living pay increases

Submitted by

Susan Steger

At a special city commission meeting  on Monday, September 24 the Fernandina Beach City Commission gave unanimous approval to a memorandum of understanding with the International Firefighters, Local 2836. City Manager Joe Gerrity said the agreement will forgo any pay raises and cost of living raises for firefighters’ union members in the upcoming fiscal year.  The current contract agreed upon in 2009 is to be extended for one year.

In response to Commission Poynter’s question as to how firefighters felt about the agreement, Gerrity indicated the union wants to be “partners with the city.” He further stated,  “They understand the difficulty we are having.  They would like us to make a public statement about their cooperation in this issue and I fully intend to do that at the next full meeting [Tuesday, October 2.]”

Union negotiations continue with UBC members.  The city budget for fiscal year 2012-2013 presented by Gerrity and approved by the city commission on September 18  did not fund any employee pay increases.  Without the cooperation of the firefighters union, an estimated  impact on the newly approved budget would be $68,730. The firefighters’ union is the first of the city’s three unions to agree to forgo salary and cost of living increases.

Septebmer 26, 2012 11:31 a.m.