1. Collective Bargaining Agreement
Presented by Benita Harper, Labor Relations Manager Human Resources April 13, 2010

2. History
November majority of Fort Worth citizens voted to allow collective bargaining for City fire fighters
22nd city in Texas to ratify collective bargaining
Discussions began with the City about one year after collective bargaining authorized by the voters

3. Mayor & Council Communication
M&C C Authorize the Collective Bargaining Agreement between City of Fort Worth, Texas, and the Fort Worth Professional Firefighters Association, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 440, to expire September 30, 2013

4. New Rank
Currently, Chief has 3 deputies in his executive staff overseeing 904 fire fighters
Division Chief falls between Battalion Chief and Deputy Chief
Creation of a new rank of Division Chief increases the Chief’s span of management and improves oversight and accountability through better departmental control
This new position is exempt from competitive examination and instead will be filled by discretionary appointment of the Chief

5. Hiring
Implementation of new hiring procedures to include the use of grouping (simultaneous consideration of multiple candidates) which will allow more flexibility
Allows Chief to choose the best candidate from a broader candidate pool
Also, allows for a longer probationary period to evaluate new fire fighters

6. Disciplinary Action
Procedures will include termination without right of administrative appeal if convicted of a felony; fire fighters must notify the Chief, or his chain of command, within 48 hours of the fire fighter's felony indictment, arrest or charge of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or a felony

7. Staffing
Assures four person staffing except when a fire fighter is absent for training or other leave of up to four hours

8. Pension and Health Benefits
Will essentially remain the same during the course of the Agreement, but allows the City to raise health care premiums, while maintaining the same percentage level of contribution to that premium cost, as well as make other plan changes, including plan provider, so long as any new plan remains substantially equivalent to the present plan

9. Wages
* Includes Retiree Health Benefit adjustment in FY 12-13

10. Wages-Cont. No wage increases after 4-year term
Includes a longevity pay supplement based on tenure – e.g. a percent of base pay that does not increase hourly rate
$1.6M represents compensation dollars that the Association elected to divert for a retiree health benefit
Other additional contract costs = $1.2M to $2.4M

11. Retiree Health Benefits
Keeps in place the current City ordinance regarding retirement health benefits for all new hires after January 1, 2009
City and Association will study other retiree health care options and the City will contribute $1.6M (equivalent of two percent of fire fighter's wages) to be set aside during the last year of the Agreement for retiree health benefits, subject to negotiations in the next cycle

12. Duration and Termination
4 year term with a 1-year evergreen (additional year where the contract continues while it’s being renegotiated)
No wage increases during evergreen period (except those eligible for steps and longevity pay supplements already earned)

13. Highlights Association approved agreement on April 3, 2010
First labor contract between the City and the Fort Worth Firefighters Association
Creates the first rank of Division Chief
Assures Fort Worth citizens that four fire fighters will staff every truck responding to an emergency

14. Next Steps
M&C to approve the Agreement is scheduled for consideration this evening
If approved, Agreement is effective immediately

15. Collective Bargaining Agreement
Questions