Park Ridge firefighters’ labor pact OK’d over charges of ‘sloppy’ negotiating

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Updated: March 24, 2012 8:43AM

A labor-contract settlement agreement between the city of Park Ridge and its firefighters union was approved by the Park Ridge City Council on Feb. 20, but not without some sharp criticism from Mayor David Schmidt.

Calling the initial contract negotiations “botched,” Schmidt objected to the agreement establishing Nov. 12, 2011, as the effective date for new overtime provisions because it will mean an additional cost of $6,400 to the city.

Schmidt contends the effective date of the labor contract with the International Association of Firefighters, Local 2697, was May 1, 2011, meaning a lower pay rate for nonessential overtime work, such as conducting CPR classes, began that day. The union argued that the new overtime pay rate should have began after the contract was signed by the mayor in November or employees would risk having to pay back some of the overtime they had earned between May 1 and Nov. 12. Grievances were subsequently filed by employees.

A copy of the signed labor agreement includes a cover document stating that the contract between the city and Local 2697 is effective May 1, 2011, through April 30, 2014.

On Feb. 20, Schmidt called the negotiations between the city and the firefighters union “very sloppy.”

“Why are we amending the start date?” he asked. “Because somebody messed up in the negotiations? Who was that?”

City Manager Jim Hock responded that there had been “no discussion of retroactivity of various aspects of the contract” during the negotiating process.

“I think both parties are to blame,” Hock said.

Referring to the additional $6,400 the city would now be expected to incur in overtime pay between May 1 and Nov. 12, Schmidt demanded to know who on the city’s negotiating team “messed up.”

“I was the lead negotiator for the city so it would have been my responsibility,” acknowledged Fire Chief Mike Zywanski. He added: “Retroactivity was not discussed at the table.”

Schmidt said the negotiating process was lacking in attention to details.

“It reflects an overall sloppiness in city management,” he said following the meeting.

Schmidt acknowledged that a mayoral veto of the settlement agreement is a possibility, but he did not commit to doing so Feb. 20. He added that efforts to enforce what he believes are the true terms of the contract could end up costing the city more than $6,400.

Hock explained that the city will make up for the $6,400 by cutting down on regular overtime, which may drop staffing levels below the required minimum during certain shifts. The city may need to seek mutual aid from other communities during these times, he said.

In addition to the overtime start date the contract settlement also states that firefighters will not receive holiday pay for Veteran’s Day 2011. As for an insurance matter union members will not be required to reimburse the city for additional monthly premium co-pays for HMO insurance coverage and the city will not reimburse the employees for reduced co-pays for dental coverage between May 1 and Nov. 12.

Voting against the contract settlement was 5th Ward Alderman Dan Knight. First Ward Alderman Joe Sweeney and 6th Ward Alderman Tom Bernick were not present for the vote.