By Dave Wedge
The Boston Herald
BOSTON — A leading fiscal watchdog sounded warning alarms as City Hall and firefighter union officials celebrated an “unprecedented” deal that trims $45 million from an earlier proposal but still gives jakes 20 percent pay hikes.
“We’re very concerned about raising the bar for the next round of collective bargaining contracts, particularly with police and teachers,” said Boston Municipal Research Bureau president Sam Tyler. “I think we still have that same concern.”
Menino officials say the deal, brokered in secret and approved by the City Council yesterday, gives firefighters 17.5 percent pay hikes over five years.
Because of the way the deal is structured, jakes will see an additional 3 percent bump the year after the contract expires, resulting in total compensation of 20 percent over six years.
A state arbitrator had previously awarded 19 percent raises over four years, including a 2.5 percent hike for drug testing.
The deal approved yesterday reduces the drug-testing raise to 1.5 percent and defers that bump to June 30, 2011 — a year later than the original deal. Menino officials say slashing the drug-testing pay raise saves the city $45 million over 20 years, while deferring it for a year saves $2.8 million.
New firefighters must pass a physical abilities test, as well as random drug and alcohol tests, to receive the 1.5 percent hike.
As part of the compromise, jakes will get a 2010 2.5 percent wage hike six months later than in the original deal, saving the city $2.1 million. As a trade-off, the union gets a 3.5 percent raise for fiscal year 2009 six months early.
The raises are retroactive to 2006. The average retro check will be roughly $29,000 and sent out within four months.
City finance director Lisa Signori called the deal “a responsible compromise,” while labor relations chief John Dunlap called it “a very meaningful reduction of an arbitration award that raised very serious concerns for the taxpayers.”
Councilors approved the deal 12-1, with dissenter Chuck Turner, saying, “The bottom line is can we afford it? My sense is no.”
“Our families haven’t had a raise in five years,” said a “relieved” Local 718 union President Edward Kelly. “We work hard for the city. We sacrifice. And we’ve given up more in this contract than any other union.”
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