A year and a half ago I was applauding the Vancouver Firefighters Union over their declining a wage increase, seeing the economy slipping further into recession. Comments left on my blog back then informed me the “sacrifice” wasn’t as altruistic as I assumed.
If there was need of any further proof of that we see it today as we are informed that Vancouver and two unions stalled on contracts. The “two unions” are the Police Command and Firefighter unions who will not agree to the city’s offer and instead, are demanding hefty wage increases, even though our economy has not improved and in fact, has worsened since the firefighters made their “concession” to a wage freeze in July 2009.
At issue today is the Fire Suppression Unit, IAFF Local 452 holding out for an “8.2% wage increase for contract year 2010 with another 2% COLA in contract year 2011. In addition, they want a 10% longevity pay for over 25 years service, payoffs of unused sick leaves and a reduction in number of hours worked in a week.”
We also see the Police Command Unit, OPEIU Local 11 holding out for “Commanders pay 10% above a Lieutenants Pay, and a Lieutenant’s pay 22.4% above a Sergeants’ pay” in both contract years.
In the case of the Firefighters Union, the city offers no wage increase and a 10% increase in their contribution towards dependents health insurance premiums for contract year 2010 and no wage increase and a 15% contribution toward dependents health insurance premiums in contract year 2011.
For the Police Union the city offers no wage increase in each contract year and the same contribution towards dependents health insurance premium as for Firefighters, 10% and 15%.
Currently, the average wage for a Vancouver Firefighter with 19 years of service is just over $75,000 a year base, not including overtime, differential or specialty pay. They receive 288 hours a year sick leave accrual, with a maximum of 1,911 hours accrual. They receive 336 hours vacation accrual with a maximum of 824 hours accrual. The work a 49 hour week of 24 hours on duty and 48 hours off duty with every 8th day being a day off to ‘true up’ the hours accordingly.
For the average Police Commander with 10-years service, they receive $112,908 a year in base salary, not including overtime or differential pay. They receive 302 hours average Paid Days off accrual a year with a maximum of 604 hours. They receive 120 hours a year sick leave accrual with a maximum of 1024 hours.
Were these better times, I might be inclined to lean more towards the two unions, although I think 8.2% is a bit steep, but they aren’t better times. Many feel today that once historians look back, this so called ‘Great Recession’ will actually be seen more like another ‘Great Depression.’
Clark County has had double digit unemployment ongoing for some 2 years and there is no end in sight. Private sector jobs continue drying up along with revenues paid into state & city coffers, where these increases would come from.
While I hold both Firefighters and Police in the highest of regard, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard is bare. We taxpayers just don’t have it. It is unreasonable that while we blast overspending at all levels of government, public unions step in and demand even more spending on them.
We already see the loss of one fire station in Vancouver. The city of Kelso’s Police Union demands recently saw the loss of 3 Police Officer’s and one Police clerk. Public outrage caused county commissioners to decline accepting their scheduled pay increase and car allowance.
Even though much of the blame can be placed on poor choices by elected officials in deficit spending, that doesn’t change the fact that there just is no money left for citizens to give.
We’d like to feed our families too.
The matter is now slated for arbitration with both sides being held to whatever is decided. Disturbing is reading of the arbitration process,
“The arbitrator is limited in factors to be considered in reaching a final decision. Such factors include the cost of living as well as a comparison of wages hours and working conditions of like employers of similar size on the West Coast. The public entity’s ability to pay is not a factor for consideration in the arbitration process.”
I am truly left wondering just who we elect and who chooses a career to “protect and to serve” really gives a damn about the taxpayers!
